The BMA earned numerous international accolades for their design and innovation strategies, according to the regulator

Bermuda’s new two and five-dollar banknotes. Photo: Bermuda Monetary Authority

The full press release from the BMA:

Today the BMA announced it has received multiple international recognitions by earning the prestigious LEED® certification in green building design for BMA House, as well as two separate international awards for the design and innovative security features of Bermuda’s new two- and five-dollar banknotes. In addition to these accolades, both the LEED certification and the new polymer banknote initiative are milestone accomplishments in the BMA’s sustainability strategy.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a globally recognised symbol of excellence in green building. The LEED certification signifies that BMA House is operated and maintained to the highest level of sustainability —ensuring electricity cost savings, lower carbon emissions and healthier indoor environments. BMA House at 43 Victoria Street in Hamilton is now one of only a small handful of buildings in Bermuda that have secured the LEED certification.

The new five-dollar banknote was awarded the International Bank Note Society’s (IBNS) Bank Note of the Year for 2024 in recognition of its artistic merit and innovative security features, while the two- and five-dollar banknotes were together recognised with the High Security Printing Latin America Award for Best New Banknote for 2025, also in recognition of their security features.

“As a progressive financial services regulator, the BMA aims to excel and continuously improve in all that we do. We are honoured to receive these international recognitions for excellence in green building design and the outstanding design of the two- and five-dollar banknotes,” explained Craig Swan, the Authority’s CEO. “The BMA also places a high priority on helping to create a more sustainable future where everyone can thrive. We are proud to be able to provide our employees with a greener, healthier workplace and our community with more durable, environmentally sustainable banknotes.”

An international symbol of excellence, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. The BMA achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in several targeted areas, including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. The upgrades for BMA House began in 2023 with a vision to improve the environmental and human health impacts of the building and help make the world a more sustainable, healthier place. There are nearly 197,166 registered and certified LEED projects worldwide in 186 countries and territories.

“LEED is a transformative tool that ensures a building is designed and operated to achieve high performance, improve human health and protect the environment,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “By prioritising sustainability, the BMA project is leading the way in Bermuda and helping USGBC continue towards our goal of green buildings for everyone within this generation.”

More on the two- and five-dollar banknotes and their awards

Issued in October 2024, the BMA’s five-dollar banknote was identified as a favourite from the onset of voting by International Bank Note Society’s (IBNS) members. The five-dollar banknote beat out more than 21 nominated banknotes from a pool of more than 100 issued worldwide to receive the International Bank Note Society’s ‘Bank Note of the Year’ for 2024 based on artistic merit and innovative security features. The innovative security features of both the two- and five-dollar banknotes were also cited as the leading factor for the High Security Printing Latin America Award for Best New Banknote for 2025.

The award-winning banknotes are printed by De La Rue on polymer substrate. This material increases the lifespan of the banknotes to two and a half times longer than the previous cotton notes due to increased durability and resistance to dirt and moisture, making them a more environmentally sustainable option. Both banknotes also feature tactile dots to increase accessibility for those with vision impairment.

Notable security features on both banknotes include: a highly reflective, mirror-like tuna printed on the front of the notes with a shadow of the fish visible on the back of the banknotes; a coloured tuna printed inside the substrate that becomes clearer when the note is held up to the light; a clear window that is fully and partially transparent that depicts a cloudy sky and an underwater scene, viewable from both sides; the abbreviation ‘BMA’ printed on the front and a hibiscus flower printed on the reverse, both of which become see-through when the note is held up to the light; a shimmering gold ink wave design with multiple fish and a sun, when the notes are tilted, other hidden elements that appear in two colours when the banknotes are illuminated with UV light; and a unique serial number, along with a printed ‘security thread’ with BMA microtext.