Ulster Bank's new £50 inspired by the role of women in life and industry in the north is set to go into circulation tomorrow.
The polymer £50 is the latest in a series of vertically oriented notes launched by the bank featuring prominent people and places in Northern Ireland.
The design of the note heavily features women working in NI’s burgeoning life sciences industry.
It includes Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s iconic 1967 discovery of pulsars - spherical, compact objects that are about the size of a large city but contain more mass than the sun.
On the other side of the note, there is a range of flora and fauna found in the North, including a pine marten, a cryptic wood butterfly, and gorse, whose thorny spines make it a corridor and safe haven for wildlife.
Terry Robb, Head of Personal Banking in Northern Ireland, said: “We have experienced a huge increase in customers moving to digital transactions but bank notes continue to be an important part of the way that many people interact with us. We’re really proud to introduce this latest bold new design.”
“The new polymer notes last two-and-a-half-times longer than traditional cotton notes, making them more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Their advanced security features also make it easier for customers to protect themselves from being a victim of fraud.”
Sandra Wright, Senior HR Manager at Ulster Bank added: “The note designs are a celebration of the people and places of Northern Ireland, building on the designs of our £5, £10 and £20 notes. But this new note has a particular focus on women and women’s role in life and industry here, including amazing achievements such as Dame Jocelyn Bell’s discovery of pulsars.”
