Austria
EnnsTaler
Region: Ennstal, Austria
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency
First Issued: December 2016
Description and Background: EnnsTaler notes exchange 1:1 to the euro and encourage regional purchases. If a consumer becomes a subscriber and recieves the notes on a regular basis, a 3% discount is provided.
Circulation and Participation: unknown
Founders: unknown
Contact: info@ennstaler.net, Bernd Fischer losesteine@gmx.at
Website: http://www.allmenda.com/ennstaler
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Styrrion
Region: Striya, Austria
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency
First Issued: April 2005
Description and Background: The Styrrion can be obtained from issuing offices at an exchange rate of 1:1 to the euro. Customers have one year to use the vouchers before they become invalid. After the validity expires, an exchange in euros can still be made with the depreciating by 5% every three months. Exchanging back to euros while the Styrrion is valid incurs a 5% redemption fee, 3% of which goes to a non-profit of the customer’s choosing, with the remaining 2% returning to the Styrrion association.
Circulation and Participation: unknown
Founders: The Styrrion association was founded by a teacher, six students, and three specialist advisors
Contact: office@styrrion.at, clemens.suppan@styrrion.at
Website: https://www.styrrion.at/
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/styrrion
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Wieselburger 10er
Region: Wieselburg, Austria
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency
First Issued: October 2011
Description and Background: Wieselburger 10er notes can be purchased at three Wieselburg banking institutions and a shopping center. The notes cannot be exchanged back to the national currency.
Circulation and Participation: In 2012, “more than 11,000 “Wieselbuger 10s” have already been issued, of which around 60 percent have already been redeemed.”
Founders: The Styrrion association was founded by a teacher, six students, and three specialist advisors
Contact: office@wieselburg.at
Hungary
Kékfrank
Region: Sopron County, Ödenburg basin, Hungary
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency
First Issued: September 2009
Description and Background: Kékfrank notes are backed by the Hungarian forint and exchange 1:1, with an administration fee of 0.25%.
Circulation and Participation: unknown
Founders: Sopron
Contact: info@kekfrank.hu
Website: http://kekfrank.hu/
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/groups/223770064320054/?fref=nf
Italy
Credito
Region: Damanhur, Italy
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible metal currency
First Issued: September 1978
Description and Background: Creditos are a complementary currency used by the Damanhur community; they have a 1:1 exchange rate to the euro and can be obtained at the Welcome Center or in change machines located in main areas. The Damanhur community is described as “a Federation of spiritual communities, with its own Constitution, culture, art, music, currency, schools and uses of science and technology.”
Circulation and Participation: As of July 2019, the value of creditos used is estimated at over one million euro
Founders: The Damanhur Community
Contact: welcome@damanhur.org
Website: http://www.damanhur.org/en/live-community/economy-and-work
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Ducati
Region: Castellino del Biferno, Molise, Italy
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency
First Issued: May 2020
Description and Background: Mayor Enrico Fratangelo had been interested in minting a local currency for more than a decade and finally issued the Ducati to residents as part of the town’s COVID-19 aid. The notes were distributed according to need, and their value is 1:1 to the euro. Every two weeks business owners turn in their Ducati to the town council to receive the corresponding amount in euro.
Circulation and Participation: The town was given 5,500 euro from the national government to issue food vouchers, which they used to distribute Ducati to over 200 families.
Founders: Mayor Enrico Fratangelo and the Castelleno del Biferno town council
Website: https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/26/coronavirus-italian-town-prints-own-currency-to-help-locals-and-businesses
Luxemburg
Beki
Region: Canton of Réiden, Luxemburg
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency
First Issued: 2012
Description and Background: Bekis exchange 1:1 to the euro and incur a 5% loss when exchanging back. The Beki program distributes 3% of the Bekis purchased to a social, cultural, or ecological project of the customer’s choosing.
Circulation and Participation: From 2012 to 2018, 1.000.000 Beki have come into circulation. In 2018 194.223 Beki have come into circulation and the average amount in circulation was 161.051 Beki. 102 providers accept Beki. The association has 370 members.
Founders: The project was launched by the municipality of Beckerich. Today the non-profit organisation De Kär (meaning the core/the grain) manages the currency.
Contact: info@beki.lu
Website: http://www.beki.lu/
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/Beki-851048341635053/
Spain
Varamedí
Region: Zafra, Extremadura, Spain
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency
First Issued: 2018
Description and Background: Varamedí is a euro-backed currency that can be obtained from change points in the Zafra region. Varamedí is a result of a project called “Social Economy: Local Zafra”, created and managed by the NGDO Movimiento Páramo. This project is financed by Extremadura’s International Cooperation Agency for Development (AEXCID), within the Junta de Extremadura, the regional government. “Social Economy: Local Zafra” is an open and collaborative project. All citizens of Zafra have the option to participate through various forums. Associations, political groups and individuals can contribute their opinion and improvements to the project.
Circulation and Participation: The equivalent of 23,000 euros worth of Varamedís were in circulation after one year.
Founders: ONGD Moviemiento Páramo
Contact: movimientoparamo@movimientoparamo.org
Social Media: Varamedi. Web, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Economia social: Zafra local. Web, Facebook, Twitter.
United Kingdom
England
Bristol Pound
Region: Bristol, England
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency, digital and physical notes
First Issued: 2012
Description and Background: The Bristol Pound is the UK’s first city-wide local currency, the first to have electronic accounts managed by a regulated financial institution, and the first that can be used to pay some local taxes. The Bristol Pound is run as a not-for-profit partnership between the Bristol Pound Community Interest Company and Bristol Credit Union. The physical notes can be obtained at cashpoints in the region without requiring a membership. To spend Bristol Pounds digitally, consumers must open an account with the Bristol Credit Union. The currency exchanges 1:1 to sterling, but incurs some fees when used digitally.
Circulation and Participation: Over £5million Bristol Pounds have been spent in the city, including paper and electronic payments. Over 80,000 transactions have been made by text, mobile app, and online banking, which is around 300 payments a week since 2012
Founders: a group of campaigners and financial activists
Contact: info@bristolpound.org
Website: https://bristolpound.org/
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/BristolPound https://twitter.com/BristolPound
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Brixton Pound
Region: Brixton, United Kingdom
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency
First Issued: 2009
Description and Background: Brixton Pounds exchange 1:1 with sterling and can be obtained at regional issuing points. There is no charge to consumers, but businesses pay a 1.5% transaction fee which goes toward the Brixton Fund, a micro-grant program for Brixton causes and initiatives. Famously, David Bowie appears on the B£10 note.
Circulation and Participation: Around 250 businesses currently accept paper B£
Founders: Tom Shakhil
Contact: info@brixtonpound.org, madeleine@brixtonpound.org
Website: https://brixtonpound.org
Social Media: https://twitter.com/BrixtonPound https://www.facebook.com/BrixtonPound
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Lake District Pound
Region: Lake District, Cumbria, England
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency
First Issued: May 2018
Description and Background: Lake District Pounds are exchanged with sterling pounds 1:1 for physical notes. The notes can be ordered online and delivered to a home or hotel, or traded at exchange points. A Lake District Pound “passport” is also offered. Customers can collect stamps at participating businesses when they spend Lake District Pounds, and collect rewards for filling the pages.
Circulation and Participation: unknown
Founders: unknown
Contact: info@lakedistrictpound.com
Website: https://www.lakedistrictpound.com/
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/lakedistrictpound/ https://www.facebook.com/lakedistrictpound/ https://twitter.com/lakespound?lang=en
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Lewes Pound
Region: Lewes, England
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency
First Issued: 2008
Description and Background: Lewes Pounds exchange 1:1 to sterling in either direction and are available at trading desks in the region. The sterling used to purchase Lewes Pounds is held in a local credit union where they can be used to “support local people with vital loans at low-interest rates.” The notes have expiration dates to discourage hoarding and can be exchanged for the updated edition up to a year past the expiry date.
Circulation and Participation: Unknown
Founders: Transition Town Lewes
Contact: https://www.thelewespound.org/contact/
Website: https://www.thelewespound.org/
Wales
Hay Vouchers
Region: Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales
Currency Type: locally-issued convertible paper currency
First Issued: November 2015
Description and Background: The Hay Voucher project was organised by members of Hay Chamber of Commerce to promote trade in the town and to keep as much money as possible circulating within the Hay economy. Vouchers can be redeemed at any participating business in Hay, currently around 95% of businesses. Hay Vouchers are available in denominations of £5, £10 and £20 so a £5 Hay Voucher is worth £5 sterling. The notes are backed by the national currency and are exchangeable for GBP. Vouchers are available from Pughs@Londis in Hay and via the Hay Chamber of Commerce website. The vouchers are security coded and individually stamped so they can be traced.
Circulation and Participation: As of April 2019 over £30,000 of Hay Vouchers had been issued.
Founders: Debbie Davies for the The Hay and District Chamber of Commerce
Contact: chair@hayonwyechamber.co.uk
Website: https://hayonwyechamber.co.uk/