As regular handlers of cash, employees of financial institutions and currency exchanges are often the first line of defense against counterfeiting.
The public continues to count on you every day to supply them with currency. This means you have to be knowledgeable about the security features of the notes that you handle.
As the United States government prepares to issue a new $100 note, we want to ensure you have the resources you need to learn about the new design, so you can differentiate a real note from a counterfeit one.
To assist you in that effort, we have developed this website in addition to a number of free educational materials to help explain the advanced security features on the new $100 note.
If you suspect you have received a counterfeit note, contact your local police department. Outside of the United States, please contact the regional U.S. Secret Service field office that serves your country.
We also want to assure you and your customers that it is not necessary to trade in old-design $100 notes when the new design is issued. All U.S. currency remains legal tender, regardless of when it was issued.
The new $100 note is the final denomination in a family of redesigned notes that was first introduced in 2003 with a new $20 note and includes the $50, $10 and $5 denominations.
Over a decade of research went into developing the new $100 note's security features. The design includes two new, advanced security features, as well as several other effective features that may be familiar to you.
We invite you to visit this page often to access the variety of resources available to help educate you, your colleagues and your customers about the redesigned $100 note so that you can become more familiar with the easy-to-use security features.
Remember, it only takes a few seconds to check the new $100 note so you can know it's real.
Tips of the Trade
- Q: On the new $100 note, where are the face plate number and check letter quadrant number located? Jason V., Security Supervisor, Seminole Hard Rock Casino, Tampa, FL
A: The new $100 note includes numbers and letters which provide information about the printing plate used to manufacture each note. The image below details these locations.
- Q: I am interested in posters that show and describe the details of currency. Can you send me any information? Salina D., Student Store Manager, Bakersfield, CA
A: There are numerous education materials available to download highlighting the security and design features of U.S. currency. For example, the multinote poster features the redesigned $100 note and provides information on other redesigned U.S. currency. Be sure to check out the complete collection of training materials by denomination where you can create your own "library" of currency training resources.
- Q: We have our fair share of bad bills coming through, so I am interested in training our employees about currency. We are in NYC and have about 150 employees. Kenneth C., Director of Human Services, New York, NY
A: The U.S. government encourages businesses that handle cash to train their employees about the security and design features in the redesigned $100 note before it begins circulating. We want people to know its features so they can know it's real.
You can visit our website for a complete collection of training materials by denomination, which are designed to educate cash handlers about the security and design features in U.S. currency. Print and digital resources are available and can be used for either individual or group trainings.
- Q: Is there a program that reimburses the retail business for the forged money they received? If so, how would we go taking the proper steps to receive reimbursement? Wissam M., Walgreens Corp., Cleveland, OH
A: If a business ends up with a counterfeit note, it will lose that money. A counterfeit note cannot be exchanged for a genuine one, and it is illegal to knowingly pass counterfeit currency. Therefore, there is an incentive for businesses that handle cash to train their employees about the security and design features in genuine U.S. currency.