Picture courtesy of Bank of Thailand

 

The Bank of Thailand is shaking things up, announcing that new 50- and 100-baht banknotes will soon hit the streets, made from special polymer material. The roll-out is set for November, with Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput at the helm of the change.

 

These fresh polymer notes are crafted from a durable type of plastic, making them much more resistant to common foes like moisture and dirt. This means they’ll last significantly longer compared to the traditional paper notes—think four times longer! As such, they promise to be more cost-effective over time and easier on the wallet when it comes to maintenance.

 

The successful introduction of the 20-baht polymer banknote, known for its impressive longevity of up to eight years, preceded this shift. The bank expects this durability boost will significantly cut down the need to reprint notes, saving costs and resources and reducing environmental impacts, reported the Bangkok Post.

 

The new notes will look similar to the existing paper versions in terms of design, but they include enhanced security features. These updates include a transparent window with embossed numerals and high-tech ink that shifts colours with the angle of light. Plus, they’ve given thought to accessibility too. The notes will have tactile Braille symbols and raised diagonal lines to help the visually impaired easily identify denominations by touch.

 

Come November 21, the new polymer banknotes will be available in banks nationwide. But don’t worry about your current cash stash—the existing paper 50- and 100-baht notes will still be legal tender, circulating alongside their new, more robust counterparts.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-30

 

Have had them for years in OZ 

More of that slippery unruly stuff. The 20 Baht notes will not fold, they slip out easily.

If it serves world peace, have plastic money...

I love polymer notes. I remember first coming across them in Malaysia. They survive a good soaking meaning there's no issues carrying them in your pocket through a rain storm, and if you accidentally leave them in your pocket when they go into the wash, they come out in just as good a condition as when they went in (and cleaner to boot).

 

15 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

The 20 Baht notes will not fold, they slip out easily

 

I don't understand this. My polymer 20bt notes fold just fine. Also where are they slipping out from?

Another batch of notes with the denomination idiotically printed on the bottom-right, just because they can. 

Just now, Gsxrnz said:

Another batch of notes with the denomination idiotically printed on the bottom-right, just because they can. 

nobody is forcing you to use cash.

1 minute ago, Gsxrnz said:

Another batch of notes with the denomination idiotically printed on the bottom-right, just because they can. 

No it is bottom left on both sides.

3 hours ago, still kicking said:

Have had them for years in OZ 

Decades, I believe.

58 minutes ago, Dante99 said:

No it is bottom left on both sides.

Well countered 

4 hours ago, still kicking said:

Have had them for years in OZ 

Introduced in 1988 to be precise 

4 hours ago, still kicking said:

Have had them for years in OZ 

Invented in Oz. Oz also makes them for other countries I believe.

What are these bank notes you speak of?…

1 hour ago, JayClay said:

I love polymer notes. I remember first coming across them in Malaysia. They survive a good soaking meaning there's no issues carrying them in your pocket through a rain storm, and if you accidentally leave them in your pocket when they go into the wash, they come out in just as good a condition as when they went in (and cleaner to boot).

 

 

I don't understand this. My polymer 20bt notes fold just fine. Also where are they slipping out from?

Just don't iron them dry when wet. They will shrink.

4 hours ago, still kicking said:

Have had them for years in OZ 

NPA (Aus) been makin Bt.50.00 notes for thailand since 1997.

For those of us who carry small-denomination bills in our pockets, these plastic bills are a nightmare. Not a problem when carried separately in a wallet, but when carried in the front pocket, along with keys and change, one has to be careful when removing anything from that pocket, as the bills tend to slide out alongside!

It's been my habit to carry 1,000 Baht notes in my wallet, but smaller bills in my pocket, arranged so that I can remove a 20-Baht note, 50 or 100 Baht note without having to take out the roll and look.  I do this for security reasons.  If I need a 20? Reach in and remove one. Need a 100? Reach in and remove one. 

The plastic money is just too slippery for this style of money-handling. Everything comes sliding out.

8 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

Just don't iron them dry when wet. They will shrink.

So they'll be worth less?😁

All the coke addicts will be pleased 😜

8 minutes ago, johnnybangkok said:

All the coke addicts will be pleased 😜

Paper bills work fine... No upgrade there...

So if covid comes back , we can clean them with IPA ?

 

 

Everyone will think they are counterfeit. 

31 minutes ago, FlorC said:

So if covid comes back , we can clean them with IPA ?

 

 

 

The flu comes and goes every year.

4 minutes ago, connda said:

Everyone will think they are counterfeit. 

Do people think the Bt50.00 note in circulation is counterfeit ?

Those 20's suck because they don't fold. Now the 50's and hundreds too.

Going to be walking around with a bulge in my pants. 🤩

I'm wondering if they've worked through any issues with the existing bill counters that are programmed to identify real and fake notes. 

 

It may not be an issue at all, but it sure would be expensive to change out thousands of bill counters in banks, forex exchanges and even 7/11s.

 

It's good news. Keep printing cash. 

Thailand is becoming a less cash country, but not cashless any time soon. 

Does this represent inadvertent support for Middle Eastern nations with increased consumption of plastic? 

8 hours ago, still kicking said:

Have had them for years in OZ 

Yes, many western countries use them. I don't really like them to be honest. They are harder to fold in my wallet or pocket and they are slippery. But, anyway, they are still MONEY and I'm happy in that regard!

8 hours ago, webfact said:

The Bank of Thailand is shaking things up, announcing that new 50- and 100-baht banknotes will soon hit the streets, made from special polymer material.

 

Hardly an earth-shattering change, looking at the 20 baht notes that have already been switched to polymer material.

5 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

Another batch of notes with the denomination idiotically printed on the bottom-right, just because they can. 

Answering the question, "Is there no limit to what people on this site can bi**h and moan about?"

6 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

More of that slippery unruly stuff. The 20 Baht notes will not fold, they slip out easily.

If it serves world peace, have plastic money...

I have also experienced they stick together more readily. I have to be careful or more than one, of this plastic 20s is presented.