The Cash Management Advisory Board met on 26 October for the second time. Apart from the Riksbank, the Advisory Board consists of representatives of banks, cash deposit companies, cash transportation companies, the retail trade, trade unions and relevant public authorities.
The five working groups created at the meeting in April (Security, Cash Management Structure, Banknotes and Coins, Destruction and Cash Withdrawals in Retail Outlets) reported from their respective meetings, and the future work of the groups was discussed.
The Cash Management Advisory Board noted the positive development during 2006 concerning the number of robberies of cash transports, which has decreased by almost 50 per cent compared with previous years. The Security group plans to establish close cooperation with the police force’s “nickel project”, which aims to combat such robberies.
The Advisory Board also noted that cash management in Skåne and Norrland has continued to work very well since the Riksbank closed its offices in Malmö and Härnösand, which were replaced by privately owned depots. Up to around twenty depots may come into being within a year (there are currently four).
Other issues that were discussed in the working groups were methods to maintain good banknote quality, more effective coin management, alternative methods for destroying bank notes in the short and long terms, a survey of the methods currently used for cash withdrawals in retail outlets and future coin management, including ideas on a campaign to encourage the general public to exchange coins they have at home.
The next meeting of the Cash Management Advisory Board is planned for 25 April 2007.