Cash out: Eurozone banks stop issuing €500 note in fight against crime

Cash out: Eurozone banks stop issuing €500 note in fight against crime
By Chris HarrisVincent Coste
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Moves to phase out the euro’s highest-value banknote took a major step forward on Monday.

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Moves to phase out the euro’s highest-value banknote took a major step forward on Monday.

Central banks across Europe’s single currency area stopped issuing the purple €500 bill amid concerns it makes life easier for criminals.

The banknote's association with money laundering and terrorist financing has earned it the nickname “Bin Laden" in some circles.

The €500 note makes it easier to transport large sums of money. For example, €1 million in €500 bills weighs just 2.2kg, compared with more than 20kg if €50 denominations are used.

Germany and Austria are the only central banks in the euro area that will continue to issue the banknotes.

Nevertheless both countries — known for their reliance on cash, especially for the settlement of large sums — will stop issuing the bill on April 26.

At the start of this year, there were 521,630,046 €500 banknotes in circulation at a value of €260,815,023,000.

While the issuing of the banknote has stopped in most countries, it will continue to be legal tender.

Central banks in the euro area will also exchange €500 bills for smaller dominations of the currency for an unlimited period.

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