Following the introduction of polymer notes in 2020, the paper £20 and £50 notes will cease to be legal tender on 30th September and you will no longer be able to use them in shops etc.

So now seems like a good time to check down the back of the sofa or in the pockets of that coat you haven’t worn all summer and see if you still have any old notes.

Spend them before next Friday, swap them at a bank, or deposit them into your bank account.

If you find you still have some after Friday’s deadline you will not be able to spend them but you still have options:

Your bank may swap them for new notes or let you deposit them into your account.

Your local Post Office may let you deposit them into your bank account but you won’t be able to do a swap for new notes at the post office.

Many banks and Post Offices will be happy to do this but they are not obliged to, so if you are unable to swap or deposit them with your own bank, the Bank of England will swap the old notes for you.

You can do this in person at the Bank of England (BoE) counter at Threadneedle Street, London. You may need to provide two original identity (ID) documents or you can send them by post. You need to fill in a form and send copies of ID – see https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/exchanging-old-banknotes for the form and more details.

Or, an easier option, if your bank or post office says no, might be to ask a friend or family member to try their bank.