Hybrid paper-polymer banknote

A hybrid paper-polymer banknote or Composite Substrate is a banknote made from a mixture of paper and polymer substance.

Hybrid banknotes are essentially a paper banknote with a polymer patch. A polymer patch/band is applied vertically over the entire height of paper banknote, thus creating a clear window. The height of the polymer window generally measures 74 mm depending on the height of the banknote × 16 mm. Its thickness is 25 microns. Bulgaria was the first country to produce a hybrid paper polymer banknote, in a denomination of 20 Bulgarian Leva in 2005. Manufactures of hybrid banknotes include Giesecke+Devrient's Hybrid and Varifeye, De La Rue's Optiks, Louisenthal's Hybrid, Landqart AG's DuraSafe and Banque de France's EverFit.

The countries and monetary unions which use hybrid banknotes include: • Armenia

• Russia

• Morocco

• Qatar

• Switzerland

• Burundi

• Jamaica

• Eswatini

• Tonga

• South Africa

• Seychelles

• Lesotho

• Bermuda

• Oman

• Bulgaria

• Fiji

• United Kingdom (Scotland)

• Kazakhstan

• Iceland

• Iraq

• the EU

• Bhutan

• Madagascar

• Mauritania

• Tajikistan

• Zimbabwe

• Bahamas

• Latvia

• Solomon Islands

• Papua New Guinea

• Cambodia

• Comoros

• UAE

• C.CFA

• Suriname

• Malaysia