The $5 bill has beoome the latest to get a redesign from the U.S. Treasury department. The latest series of U.S. currency began with the introduction of the $20 note in 2003, and continued with the $50 note in 2004 and the $10 note in 2006. The redesigned $5 note is expected to be issued in early 2008 with the $100 note to follow.
According to Treasury, overall, counterfeiting of U.S. currency remains at low levels-due primarily to a "combination of improvements in the notes' security features, aggressive law enforcement and education efforts to inform the public about how to verify their currency."
Statistics continue to indicate that the amount of counterfeit U.S. currency worldwide is less than one percent of genuine U.S. currency in circulation, Treasury said.
An array of free educational materials for previously released redesigned currency including posters, "take one" cards, training videos and CD-ROMs are available to credit unions at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney.
