Oversight of payment systems
De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) exercises oversight of payment systems to ensure safe and reliable payment processing. There are two kinds of money:
- Cash: notes and coins
- Non-cash: for example, a bank balance
Cash payments
If we are to rely on the cash in our purses, banknotes must be well-protected against counterfeiting and checked regularly. Together with the ECB and the central banks of the other euro area countries, DNB is engaged in developing secure banknotes. DNB issues new banknotes and keeps the banknote circulation in shape. Every day, DNB checks five to six million banknotes for authenticity and fitness. Soiled and damaged banknotes go straight to the shredder and are replaced by new ones.
Non-cash payments
DNB operates a payment system that banks and securities firms use for processing mutual money transactions. New forms of payment (such as Internet payments) must be subjected to screening by DNB before they are introduced – for payment systems that do not function safely and securely may undermine financial stability.
