This section features useful tools to help you get to know Canada's polymer bank notes and learn how to verify their security features.
Expect the check
What if a retail clerk refused to take your $20 bill, thinking that it was a counterfeit? You’d probably feel embarrassed.
But you shouldn’t be offended. In fact, the clerk did you—and all of us—a favour. Routinely checking the security features of all notes protects everyone. It allows businesses to intercept counterfeit notes and keep them out of the cash flow and out of your change.
The Bank regularly surveys Canadian businesses and citizens to better understand how and why cash is used by assessing awareness, attitudes, and behaviours with respect to bank notes.
Tips on handling polymer notes
Handling tips, including separating brand new polymer notes.
Materials to download or order
In efforts to be more environmentally friendly, there are now fewer printed materials available for order from the Bank’s website. Feel free to download our materials and review the content online.
Brochure – Vertical $10
Basic information on the design and security features of the vertical $10 bank note
Awareness Poster – Vertical $10
A tool to help raise awareness about the vertical $10 note
Canada 150 Bank Note Design Fact Sheet
A summary of the design elements on the Canada 150 commemorative bank note.
Canada 150 Bank Note Security Features Fact Sheet
A summary of the security features on the Canada 150 commemorative bank note.
Canada 150 Bank Note Learning Activities
Activities suitable for children ages 7 and up to learn about the Canada 150 bank note. These can be used in the classroom or on your own.
- Explore the design of the Canada 150 bank note with the Can you find me? activity.
- Build a chatterbox and quiz your friends.
Commemorative $20 Note Fact Sheet
A summary of the security features in the commemorative $20 note.
Canadian Journey Series Leaflet
Basic information on the security features in the Canadian Journey series of bank notes.
Frontiers Series Fact Sheets
A summary of key information about Frontiers series polymer bank notes rolled into one handy document.
Privacy notice
Personal information collected by the Bank of Canada is protected under the Privacy Act. The information you provide is used to respond to your inquiry. For further information about the Bank of Canada’s privacy practices, please consult the Bank’s General Privacy Policy.
Disclaimer
The Bank of Canada offers free, postage-paid materials, but reserves the right to limit quantities.
The Bank may contact the requestor prior to shipping to verify that certain audience-specific resources are destined for the right users.