February 6, 2026
What is money?
We use money to pay for goods and services. Canadians are using digital money more than ever before, but cash still plays an important role in our economy.
Get quick access to background materials, explainers and The Economy, Plain and Simple articles about bank notes.
9
result(s)
September 12, 2025
The evolution of how we pay for things
New technologies new payments possibilities. Learn more about how these innovations can make purchases easier, but also introduce new risks.
Content Type(s):
Publications,
The Economy, Plain and Simple
Subject(s):
Currency,
Bank notes,
Digital currency,
Financial system,
Financial stability,
Fintech
June 30, 2023
Exploring global value and supply chains
The things we buy come out of complex production chains that span the globe. Understanding these connections is crucial for today's economies.
Content Type(s):
Publications,
The Economy, Plain and Simple
Subject(s):
Currency,
Digital currency,
Financial system,
Financial markets,
Fintech,
Monetary policy,
Economy/Economic growth
February 24, 2023
The lifespan of a bank note
At the Bank of Canada, we assessed the life cycle of bank notes to confirm that polymer notes have a smaller environmental footprint than paper notes. Polymer notes have a longer life and then are recycled.
Content Type(s):
Background materials
Subject(s):
Currency,
Bank notes
July 28, 2022
Understanding seigniorage
At the Bank of Canada, we cover the cost of day-to-day business with “seigniorage,” which means earning money from issuing bank notes.
Content Type(s):
Explainers
Subject(s):
Currency,
Bank notes,
Funds management,
Monetary policy,
Economy/Economic growth
January 1, 2021
About legal tender
Find out what “legal tender” means, why legal tender status changes, and how to redeem older bank notes.
Content Type(s):
Explainers
Subject(s):
Currency,
Bank notes
July 6, 2020
A road map to payment systems
Your money on the move
Content Type(s):
Publications,
The Economy, Plain and Simple
Subject(s):
Currency,
Digital currency,
Financial system,
Financial stability,
Fintech
October 24, 2019
How Canadians pay for things
From cash to contactless cards—what’s in our wallets?
Content Type(s):
Publications,
The Economy, Plain and Simple
Subject(s):
Currency,
Bank notes,
Digital currency,
Financial system,
Financial stability,
Fintech
April 26, 2019
The road to digital money
From beaver pelts to paper money to digital currencies
Content Type(s):
Publications,
The Economy, Plain and Simple
Subject(s):
Currency,
Digital currency,
Financial system,
Financial stability,
Fintech