2017-05-15 Mon

On 5th May, the £5 note featuring Elizabeth Fry was withdrawn from circulation in England. The new polymer £5 note featuring Sir Winston Churchill will be the only £5 note that can be used legally after that deadline. Some banks and building societies may accept the earlier £5 notes after 5 May. The Bank of England will keep exchanging Fry £5 notes. As per official reports, almost 160 million Fry notes are still left in circulation. The new polymer £5 note was first issued on 13th Sept 2016. Though officials state that they are cleaner, safer and stronger, there have been many controversies since it contains animal fat.