New Scottish £20 enters circulation

The front of the note continues to feature the portrait of Scottish novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott alongside an image of the Mound in Edinburgh, as was the case with the older paper £20 notes. The Forth Bridge remains on the reverse, but the Queensferry Crossing, opened in 2017, is visible in the background.

The Queensferry Crossing is also celebrated in its own right on a limited number of commemorative £20 notes.

The notes feature a series of security measures, such as a 'window effect' which can be found in the windows of the Mound. They also have a holographic depth stripe, the top of the foil features a northern lights effect when tilted, and the clouds on the notes will move left to right when tilted east to west. Like the £10 polymer note, the £20 notes have the 'tactile emboss' feature to aid the visually impaired.

All existing paper Bank of Scotland £20 notes will now be gradually withdrawn, but any in circulation will continue to be accepted at shops, banks and cash payment machines.

Unlike English banknotes, Scottish notes are produced by three different banks: Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank. The notes are generally accepted in the rest of the UK as well.

What do the new notes look like?

The front and back of the new £20 note is below:

Here's the back of the limited edition commemorative note: