There's always a good reason to visit a country measured by Gross National Happiness. The Asian Bankers Association's 41st annual meeting in Bhutan brought together over 150 delegates to discuss financing the future and banking for sustainable growth.
The event was a remarkable success, offering delegates a unique blend of insight and networking in one of the world's most peaceful settings. Participants gained valuable knowledge about cash sustainability and its benefits, particularly around adapting rules for a changing financial landscape. Delegates learnt about solutions for future use whilst sharing how each country currently transport cash. By embracing change, banks and cash-in-transit firms can protect cash effectively, whether they use armoured vehicles or not.
The session on Intelligent Banknote Neutralisation Systems, presented by Oberthur Feerica (the merged entity of Oberthur Cash Protection and Feerica SA), offered strategic insights into global policy trends, the
regulatory landscape, and how this technology helps shape a more secure, sustainable, and future-ready financial infrastructure. These benefits have attracted commercial banks across Asia to deploy these solutions in their countries. IBNS has proven highly successful in countries such as France and Poland, where it has become a key part of cash security operations, and more than 60 Central Banks worldwide have now adopted IBNS. It is now emerging as the strategic solution for boosting physical cash security for Cash in Transit and ATMs whilst also reducing operational risk and supporting long-term sustainability goals including financial inclusion.
As the role of cash continues to evolve within modern financial systems, IBNS presents an ideal opportunity for institutions to strengthen operational resilience, boost efficiency, and reinforce trust. This
aligns with their broader priorities in risk management, innovation, and secure infrastructure. The benefits of implementing IBNS include moving to more environmentally friendly cash operations and offering significant cost savings, such as requiring fewer armoured guards and reduced insurance premiums.
The technology provides end-to-end protection whilst promoting a move towards soft-skinned and electric vehicles, dramatically reducing CO2 emissions compared to traditional armoured transport.
Central Banks play an essential role in making IBNS effective. Their responsibility involves implementing supportive rules and creating public awareness over stained notes. They authorise the acceptance of stained notes and provide compensation to legitimate owners.
The 2026 conference in the Maldives will bring the industry one step closer to presenting policy advocacy for IBNS throughout Asia, building on the momentum and interest generated in Bhutan.
Editor's Note: What is IBNS?
IBNS stands for Intelligent Banknote Neutralisation System. The technology introduces a security solution to all Central Banks, encouraging them to accept stained notes as damaged notes requiring reimbursement. An indelibly stained note is considered stolen property. When a cash-in-transit attack or ATM physical attack occurs, the IBNS system releases permanent ink that stains banknotes, making them worthless to criminals and easily identifiable. The stained notes are rejected by ATMs and cash-counting machines.
To increase the deterrent, only financial institutions and cash-in-transit companies should present stained notes to Central Banks for reimbursement. The role of Central Banks involves reimbursing stained notes to legitimate owners. Each country follows its own laws, with some accepting stained notes as damaged currency under their existing rules, whilst others decide to implement specific guidelines to enable Central Bank reimbursement of such notes.
About Oberthur Cash Protection
Oberthur Cash Protection designs and manufactures intelligent cash protection systems and security solutions for the Cash-In-Transit, ATM & Retail markets throughout the world. Its systems use technology to detect an attempted attack or theft, and protect cash by permanently marking it as stolen, rendering it valueless. It protects cash and the way that the cash is protected will reduce attacks and thereby reducing the physical risk to cash in transit operatives and the general public.
