Infographic · design to circulation

The Journey of a New Banknote

The next denomination in line for a redesign is the $10 bill. Treasury announced 2026 as the issuance date for it, and the design and testing work had been running for years before that. The hard deadline is the last six to eight months, when the machines that take cash have to be updated and the public has to be taught what the new note looks like.

The key players

Four agencies, one note

No single agency owns the note. Treasury approves the design and the BEP engraves and prints it. The Federal Reserve orders the notes, issues them and runs the public campaign. The Secret Service advises on deterrence and enforces the currency laws.

Agency 01 / 4

U.S. Treasury

  • Sets policy and gives final design approval
  • Oversees the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Agency 02 / 4

Bureau of Engraving & Printing

  • Designs and engraves the note
  • Manufactures the physical currency
  • Develops new security tech
Agency 03 / 4

The Federal Reserve

  • Issues notes as legal tender
  • Orders and distributes new currency
  • Manages public education
Agency 04 / 4

U.S. Secret Service

  • Advises on counterfeit deterrence
  • Investigates and enforces currency laws
Four stages

From concept to circulation

  1. 01
    Years in advance

    Design and development

    Threats to the current note get analyzed first. The security features that answer them are tested and built into the design.

  2. 02
    Years leading to release

    Production

    The BEP prints billions of notes against the Fed’s annual order. The stock is built years before anyone can spend one.

  3. 03
    6–8 months before release

    Readiness preparation

    Vendors update their machines. The public education campaign starts.

  4. 04
    Release date and onward

    Issuance and circulation

    The Federal Reserve issues the note through financial institutions, and it goes into circulation.

The last six to eight months

The readiness challenge

The machines

Vendor readiness

The machines that take notes and hand them back out have to be taught the new bill before it arrives.

Update machines
ATMs, vending machines and cash sorters all need new firmware.
Test systems
Financial institutions test the updated equipment in-house before release.
Coordinate
Banks have to get their third-party vendors ready too, armored carriers included.
The people

Public readiness

The campaign runs so that cashiers and customers recognize the note the first time they see one.

Nationwide campaigns
The U.S. Currency Education Program launches campaigns 6–8 months before release.
Learn new features
How to spot the new note’s watermarks and special inks.
Train cash handlers
Staff behind the counter learn what a genuine note should look like.