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Currency Interchangeability Agreement - Brunei Notes and Coins

Overview

In order to facilitate economic and trade relations, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore adopted a system of free interchangeability of their respective currencies, which took effect from 12 June 1967. This tripartite arrangement was terminated in 1973 when Malaysia opted out of it. However, Brunei and Singapore decided to continue with the arrangement, which exists until today.

Under the agreement, each country undertakes to accept the currency issued by the other and to exchange them, at par and without charge, into their own currency.  In other words, the two currencies are "customary tender" when circulating in the country in which they are not legal tender. Banks will thus accept from the general public, including retailers, Brunei currency at par for deposit. Hence, members of the public and businesses can safely accept Brunei currency received for payment.

 Relevant extracts from the agreement are reproduced below:

"2 (a) (i)

The Brunei Currency Board1 will accept from banks in Brunei, notes and coins issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore, and will exchange such notes and coins, at par and without charge, into notes and coins issued by the Brunei Currency Board;
2 (b) (i)

The Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore2, will accept from banks in Singapore, notes and coins issued by the Brunei Currency Board, and will exchange such notes and coins, at par and without charge, into notes and coins issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore;
3 (b)

 

The Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore, will inform all licensed banks in Singapore of the arrangements referred to in paragraph 2 above, and will request all banks to accept, at par and without charge, notes and coins issued by the Brunei Currency Board, and to exchange such notes and coins into notes and coins issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore."

 

More information on the historical background to the Currency Interchangeability Agreement and its relevance to both Brunei and Singapore can be obtained here, on pages 73 to 76 (Box C).

40th Anniversary $20 Polymer Portrait Note

Singapore and Brunei Darussalam1 celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement on 27 June 2007. The $20 polymer commemorative notes were launched in a ceremony held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

Three million Singapore $20 polymer notes were introduced into circulation through the banks.  This one-time only issue also has a limited edition note set which contains a special folder consisting of two notes - one Singapore $20 (with a special over-print of the two countries’ state crests and text “40th Anniversary Currency Interchangeability Agreement”), and one Brunei $20 (with special over-print of the text “40th Anniversary Currency Interchangeability Agreement”).  The two notes, with matching serial numbers, add up to a total face value of “$40”, marking the 40th Anniversary of the Agreement.  

Singapore $20 Note Design

The note is predominantly orange in colour and measures 149mm by 72mm (which is between the size of the $10 and $50 notes).

The main design features on the front of the note are:-

  • Portrait of Singapore’s first President, the late Encik Yusof bin Ishak, and the text “Yusof bin Ishak, First President of Singapore” below it. As with the $10, $5 and $2 polymer notes, MAS has continued with the portrait series for the $20 polymer notes as the public is familiar with the series.
  • A stalk of the “Dendrobium Puan Noor Aishah” orchid (named after the wife of the late President Yusof Ishak) besides the portrait.
  • A row of motifs of the Oncidium Goldiana orchid, a renowned Singapore heritage orchid species.

The main design features on the back of the note are:-

  • Two interlocking “C”s (representing the two countries’ currencies) with the text “BRUNEI DARUSSALAM ∙ SINGAPORE and CURRENCY INTERCHANGEABILITY AGREEMENT 1967 - 2007”.  At the intersection, the state crests of both countries and the text “Forty Years” symbolize the nexus of the agreement.
  • Distinctive national landmarks of Singapore’s Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay and buildings along our city waterfront, and Brunei’s Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque with the Royal Barge and the water village.

Security Features

The note includes security features unique to polymer technology, which are similarly found in the $2, $5 and $10 polymer notes. They are:

  • Two see-through windows – one on the top-left hand side and the other at the bottom-right corner.
  • A stylised gold Singapore Lion Symbol with a hidden image, beside the top-left hand window. An image of the Singapore Arms will appear at varying angles.
  • The security thread in the shape of the Singapore island.
  • A colour switching feature on the lower left and right edges of the note that changes from red to gold at varying angles.

Footnotes:

1.     The Brunei Currency and Monetary Order 2004 took effect on 1 February 2004.  With the introduction of this Order, the Brunei Currency Board was renamed as Brunei Currency and Monetary Board (BCMB). The Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam Order 2010 took effect on 1 January 2011. With the introduction of this Order, the Brunei Currency and Monetary Board was renamed as Authoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD).

2.     The Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore was dissolved on 1 Oct 2002 and its functions, property and liabilities had been transferred to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under the Currency (Amendment) Act 2002.

Last Modified on 03/05/2017