Media Center

NEW YORK – October 3, 2003 – The U.S. government will release into circulation the redesigned $20 bill on October 9, 2003 – this is the day the Federal Reserve begins distributing the new notes to its banking customers for distribution to the public. On this day, “The New Color of Money” billboard will also debut in Times Square, signaling the height of a far-reaching public education program designed to educate the public about the updated security features in the new Series 2004 currency.

To ensure a smooth transition, the U.S. government is carrying out an integrated public education program to ensure that confidence is maintained as new money designs are issued. As part of this program, over 37 million pieces of training materials, such as brochures, posters, training videos and CD-ROMS, have been provided to businesses for use in training cash-handling employees on the changes in the bills and their security features.

Who:	Tom Ferguson, Director, The Bureau of Engraving and Printing Marsha Reidhill, Assistant Director for Cash and Fiscal Agency in the Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment System, The Federal Reserve Board
When:	Thursday, October 9, 2003 9:30 – 10:00 a.m. Media is advised to gather for positions and set-up. 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Press Q&A 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Media welcome to accompany officials as they spend new $20s in Times Square businesses.
Where:	Times Square, on the north side of 42nd Street, about 100 feet west of 7th Avenue. This location will be directly across the street from the “New Color of Money” billboard.
Interviews:	One-on-one interviews will be available later in the day; reporters can schedule in advance by calling 202-530-4887.
Materials:	The New Color of Money press kit can be accessed at the “Media Center” at www.moneyfactory.com/newmoney or by calling 202-530-4887.
B-Roll:	B-roll of the New Color of Money can be obtained through 202-530-4887.

The Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System unveiled the new $20 note with updated designs and security features in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 2003. New designs for the $50 and $100 notes will follow in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Because counterfeiters are turning increasingly to digital methods and as advances in technology make digital counterfeiting easier and cheaper, the government is staying ahead of currency counterfeiters by updating the currency every 7-10 years.

The new $20 notes will be safer, smarter and more secure currency: safer because they will be harder to fake and easier to check; smarter to stay ahead of tech-savvy counterfeiters; more secure to protect the integrity of the U.S. currency.