The Union of Russian Banks has asked for a six-month delay in the introduction of the banknote, which bears a design of the World War II memorial to “heroic” Soviet soldiers, because bank machines require reprogramming to dispense them. “With the withdrawal of suppliers, any updates to the software of … ATMs, as well as cash registers and terminals, became impossible,” the Kommersant newspaper quoted the association as saying. The headache over how to roll out the new 100-ruble note, worth around £1.50, highlights how Western-imposed sanctions are affecting business in Russia. About 60 percent of bank machines in Russia were built by Diebold Nixdorf using software installed by NCR. Diebold Nixdorf and NCR are both US companies that have suspended sales and services in Russia since Vladimir Putin, the country’s president, ordered an invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Russia’s 100-ruble banknote was last updated in 2015, when the Russian Central Bank introduced a new design to commemorate the annexation of Crimea the previous year. This note replaced a design that had been in circulation since the 1990s. Unveiling the new banknote on June 30, the Russian Central Bank said new security features were needed. However, he may also have wanted a design that reflected the country’s current challenging mood.
