Northern Bank completes first phase of note replacement scheme

The Northern Bank has completed the first phase of a programme to replace all its bank notes with new currency in the wake of December's £26.5m (€38m) heist in Belfast.

The bank said the majority of £10, £20, £50 and £100 notes had been withdrawn from circulation and replaced with new tender featuring a revised serial prefix and a new logo.

The programme was implemented in an effort to prevent those behind the Belfast robbery from laundering the proceeds of their crime.

Old bank notes can still be exchanged for the new currency at any Northern Bank or National Irish Bank branches.