| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Denomination: | Twenty pounds |
| Value: | £20 sterling |
| Width Mm: | 139 |
| Height Mm: | 73 |
| Security Features: | Raised print, metallic thread, watermark, microlettering, see-through registration device, UV feature |
| Paper Type: | Polymer |
| Years Of Printing: | 1727–present 2020–present (current design) |
| Obverse: | RBS-£20-(2019)-front-300dpi.jpg |
| Obverse Design: | Catherine Cranston |
| Obverse Design Date: | 2020 |
| Reverse: | RBS-£20-(2019)2-back-300dpi.jpg |
| Reverse Design: | Red Squirrels |
| Reverse Design Date: | 2020 |
The Royal Bank of Scotland £20 note is a sterling banknote. It is the third largest denomination of banknote issued by The Royal Bank of Scotland. The current polymer note, first issued in 2020, bears the image of Catherine Cranston on the obverse and a vignette depicting a pair of Red Squirrels on the reverse.
The Royal Bank of Scotland began issuing £20 notes in 1727, the same year as the bank's founding. Early banknotes were monochrome, and printed on one side only. The issuing of banknotes by Scottish banks was regulated by the Banknote (Scotland) Act 1845 until it was superseded by the Banking Act 2009.[1] Though strictly not legal tender in Scotland, Scottish banknotes are nevertheless legal currency and are generally accepted throughout the United Kingdom. Scottish banknotes are fully backed such that holders have the same level of protection as those holding genuine Bank of England notes.[2] The £20 note is currently the third largest denomination of banknote issued by The Royal Bank of Scotland.[3]
The Ilay series of banknotes was first issued in 1987.[4] These banknotes feature a portrait of Lord Ilay, first governor of the bank, on the front. Lord Ilay's image is also used as a watermark on the notes. Other design elements include the bank's coat of arms and logo, the facade of Dundas House, the bank's headquarters in Edinburgh, and a pattern representing the ceiling of the headquarters' banking hall. All of the Ilay series notes feature a castle on the back. On the reverse of the £20 note is an image of Brodick Castle.[5]
On 5 March 2020,[6] a new polymer £20 note was introduced showing the tea room entrepreneur Catherine Cranston in place of Lord Ilay.[7]
| Note | First issued | Colour | Size | Design | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilay | 1987 | Purple | 14 × 80 mm | Front: Lord Ilay; Back: Brodick Castle | |
| Polymer | 5 March 2020 | Purple | 139 × 73 mm | Front: Catherine Cranston; Back: Red Squirrels | |
Information taken from The Committee of Scottish Bankers website.[3]