Do you know what are the benefits of polymer banknotes? They're many advantages for using a plastic notes compare with paper or cotton banknotes. Malaysia first join in the polymer notes country list when Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) release a 1998 Commonwealth Games RM50 commemorative banknotes on 1 June 1998. Until today, many Malaysian might have not seen the SUKOM RM50 notes, some might think it as the new RM50 notes for 2012. One of the advantages of using a Polymer banknotes are it is hard to counterfeit because of the high cost and technology that came with the notes. In my opinion, the only reason BNM don't do this are because it is hard to change Malaysian mind set to accept polymer notes or even to take care their notes properly. I wish one day, BNM will change all Malaysia Ringgit denomination to polymer especially for the high denomination RM50 and RM100 notes. It will help reducing counterfeiting problem in Malaysia.
12 benefits & advantages of polymer banknotes:
- The new Polymer notes have a leading edge security features, it is easy to verify them and hard to counterfeit. They're less counterfeit case for polymer notes so far compare to paper banknotes.
- Polymer notes last at least four times longer than paper notes, reducing processing and replacement costs and environmental impact.
- The polymer notes are recyclable when they are no longer needed for use. The old paper notes cannot be recycle when they are no longer in use, Bank will burn or buried them.
- Polymer notes don't absorb moisture, they will not get dirty and limp easily, if you properly take care of the notes.
- You cannot easily tear a polymer notes (with your hand) like paper notes.
- Polymer notes can stand a high temperatures of up to 100 degrees Celsius. This doesn't mean you should try to melt your notes with iron. It is meant for unexpected incident, for example if you forget that you left your notes in your car.
- Your polymer notes came with a protective coating that protect them from dirt, oil and liquid. Unless you put a hot oil on them, the printing on the polymer notes will not fade.
- The cost of printing the Polymer notes are bit high then the old paper notes but with a high durability & longevity, Malaysia will save more on the cost of new notes produces. The high cost of printing a polymer notes also one of a reason why it is hard to make a counterfeit banknote.
- They cannot easily be washed or get damaged in the washing machine like paper notes. Unless you're brainless Malaysian who put your cloth for over 24 hours in Clorox bleach.
- Polymer notes have its own collector, foreign people who collect polymer notes will keep the notes in their collection and this indirectly will give extra profit for government.
- Polymer notes are more easy to feed, process and count using ATM machine or any money deposit machine.
- They're less machine jammed for polymer notes compare to paper notes, it will help banks or money operated machines operators to reduce their cost in maintenance.
