News in Brief

Cash on Delivery Lives On

Over 80% of online merchants offer payment by Cash on Delivery (CoD) in markets such as Greece, Bulgaria and Slovakia. A mixture of historical financial instability and limited trust in digital systems means CoD lives on, albeit in decline, due to a mixture of historical financial instability and limited trust in digital systems. In western and northern Europe CoD is rarely used and offered by fewer than 10% of online retailers.

MAS Sustainability Initiatives Make a Difference

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is committed to reducing the carbon emissions of its outsourced currency operations across the currency value chain. In its Sustainability Report 2024/205 it gave details of three on-going initiatives.

‘Fit-for-Gifting’ currency notes (fit notes) – for Lunar New Year (LNY) 2025, MAS enhanced its multi-pronged approach to encourage greater adoption of fit notes for festive gifting (these are used currency notes that are similar in quality to those from ATMs and may have fold lines or minor stains) by intensifying its programme of using a mix of social media and outdoor advertisements to promote them across different demographic segments. It also worked with the banks to expand their network of pop-up and branch ATMs to dispense fit notes.