Brink's Bank Notes

Bank notes still need protection when they leave the press. Brink's manages security and chain of custody from production through distribution, so central banks, wholesale banks, retail banks, and currency exchanges always know where their notes are and what condition they're in.

Your currency. Every stage. One partner from production to distribution.

100+ countries served

1,300 facilities worldwide

68,100 employees

165+ years of secure logistics

How Brink's bank note services work

Brink's manages every handoff from the moment currency leaves production to the moment it reaches circulation.

1. Bank notes and raw materials move under Brink's chain of custody

Brink's Secure Logistics handles pickup, transit, and delivery from the printer, mint, or central bank, so custody never passes to an unvetted third party.

2. Notes are counted and validated on arrival

Every shipment is counted and checked against expected volumes before it enters our processing environment.

3. Fitness sorting separates what stays in circulation from what doesn't

Brink's Money Processing sorts notes by condition, pulling worn or damaged currency out of circulation and flagging what's fit to recirculate.

4. Counterfeit detection runs on every note processed

Automated screening catches counterfeit currency before it reenters the supply chain, protecting the integrity of the notes in circulation.

5. Notes are wrapped, packed, and prepared for their next destination

Whether that's a bank vault, an ATM network, or an Extended Custodian Inventory (ECI) facility, Brink's prepares currency to the specifications each destination requires.

6. Distribution moves currency to its final point, even across borders when needed

Brink's Distribution Solutions manages the secure movement of notes across multiple currencies and geographies, built around your supply chain strategy.

Catch problems before they reach circulation

Counterfeiting is a small but constant risk, even for the world's most secure currencies. Federal Reserve researchers estimate that only about 1 in every 80,000 U.S. bank notes in circulation is counterfeit, a rate that's stayed low even as currency in circulation has grown into the hundreds of billions of dollars. That rate stays low because counterfeits get caught at every stage of processing, not just when a bill finally reaches someone's wallet.

Source: Federal Reserve, Estimating the Volume of Counterfeit U.S. Currency in Circulation

What the bank note supply chain looks like without Brink's

Every handoff is a chance to lose track of custody

Multiple carriers, processors, and warehouses each touch the currency along the way, and each handoff is one more place where nobody can say for certain who had it and when.

One weak link in counterfeit detection undoes the rest

If even one processor in the chain skips a step, a counterfeit note can slip through and end up back in circulation.

Cross-border shipments mean managing a different partner in every country

Currency moving across multiple countries usually means a different local provider at each stop, each with its own standards, its own paperwork, and its own risk of something falling through the cracks.

What changes when Brink's manages your bank note supply chain

One provider holds custody from pickup to final delivery

Brink's Secure Logistics manages pickup, transit, and delivery directly, so currency never passes through an unvetted third party along the way.

Every note gets screened, not just some of them

Automated counterfeit detection runs on every shipment Brink's processes, so a weak link at one stage doesn't put the rest of the chain at risk.

Fitness sorting keeps worn currency out of circulation

Brink's Money Processing sorts notes by condition, pulling damaged or worn currency out and flagging what's fit to recirculate.

Extended Custodian Inventory keeps reserves close to where they're needed

Brink's ECI facilities hold currency at secure vault locations, with transport to and from the ECI managed directly by Brink's.

One partner manages distribution across every currency and market

Brink's Distribution Solutions builds a single supply chain strategy across multiple currencies and geographies, so you're not coordinating a different provider in every country.

Reporting gives you visibility across the entire chain

Detailed reporting on custody, processing, and movement means your team can see exactly where currency is and what condition it's in at every point.

One partner. One plan. Full visibility across the bank note supply chain.

From production through distribution, Brink's builds a plan around your currency volume, your markets, and your regulatory requirements. That plan can include Secure Logistics, Money Processing, Distribution Solutions, and Extended Custodian Inventory Management, all managed through one relationship instead of a different provider at every stage.

Pricing is customized to your currency volume and geographic footprint, so you're only paying for what your supply chain actually needs. 

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Institutions that rely on Brink's bank note services

Brink's bank note services are built for organizations that manage currency at scale and can't afford a break in custody.

National currency programs require a partner that can manage production-stage security and distribution logistics with the same level of scrutiny applied at every stage.
Bulk currency movement between institutions demands consistent chain-of-custody documentation and counterfeit screening across every shipment.
Branch and ATM networks need a steady, secure supply of fit currency without managing multiple logistics providers.
Handling multiple currencies across cross-border transactions requires a partner that can manage distribution and processing consistently across markets.

More Brink’s solutions to explore

Brink's bank note services are part of a broader portfolio built to support secure logistics and cash management across international business.

Customs Clearance

A global network of customs experts works to reduce delays in cross-border currency and valuables shipments.

Inventory Management

Real-time asset tracking and detailed reporting give your team complete visibility and control over currency held at Brink's facilities.

Precious Metals

Secure logistics and vaulting for gold, silver, and other high-value metals require the same chain-of-custody standards as currency.

Diamonds and Jewelry

Secure transport and storage for high-value goods require armored handling and a documented chain of custody from origin to destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Secure Logistics covers the pickup, transit, and delivery of bank notes and raw materials under Brink's chain of custody. Distribution Solutions is the broader supply chain strategy built around how currency moves across your markets. Most clients use both together as part of a single managed program.

Automated counterfeit detection runs on every shipment Brink's processes as part of Money Processing, screening notes before they're wrapped, packed, or returned to circulation. This applies consistently across every currency Brink's handles, not just select shipments.

Fitness sorting follows criteria set by the issuing central bank or monetary authority, covering factors like soil level, tears, and wear that affect a note's ability to run through ATMs and processing equipment. Brink's Money Processing applies these standards consistently across every note processed, so currency that no longer meets circulation criteria gets pulled out rather than recirculated. Your account team can walk through the specific fitness standards that apply to the currencies and markets in which you operate.

Extended Custodian Inventory (ECI) is currency held at a secure vault location on your behalf, giving you access to reserves without holding them on your own premises. Brink's manages both the ECI facility and the transport of currency to and from it.

Yes. Brink's Distribution Solutions is built to support supply chain strategies that span multiple currencies and geographies, so you're working with one partner instead of a different provider in each market.

Brink's Money Processing sorts notes by physical condition, separating currency that's fit to recirculate from notes that are too worn or damaged to remain in circulation. Worn currency is handled according to the destruction and replacement standards set by the issuing authority.

Onboarding timelines depend on your currency volume, the number of markets involved, and which services you're implementing. Your account team will build a rollout plan during initial conversations and can confirm a specific timeline once your program's details are set.

Protect the integrity of your bank note supply chain

Talk to a Brink's specialist about how our bank note services can secure your currency from production through distribution, in any market you serve.

Or call 804-289-9600 to contact a Brink's specialist today.

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