Scots Currency and Banks

The money used in Scotland is the Pound Sterling - the British Pound. You will find this in various guises because the Scottish banks issue their own notes - you will even find the Pound note still in existance in Scotland.

The Scottish Banks, the Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale Bank, all issue notes of various denominations and you will find these in most common circulation. Bank of England notes are also in common circulation. Theoretically you could also find Northern Irish bank notes, although this is rare.

Automatic bank cash machines often issue notes from the bank which owns the machine - Bank of England notes are rarely issued except in some airport machines.

Coins are found in 2 and 1 pound denominations and in 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 pence. There are 100 pence to the pound.

The Euro is not legal tender in Scotland and generally is not accepted although there are some exceptions to this in some major chain stores. However, it is very early days for the Euro and a more general acceptance is highly probable given time - but for the present, play safe and have Sterling!

Currency Exchange is possible at major airports and railway stations, in many travel shops, at high street currency exchange bureaus, in some main Post Offices and most banks can also provide an exchange service.

Although most British and some international banks have a presence in Scotland, those found on the high street are generally the Scottish Banks, i.e. Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank and Lloyds TSB Scotland. Banking hours vary but are generally something like 9.30am to 4.45pm on weekdays. Some banks also open on Saturday mornings. Some building societies, e.g. Halifax, Nationwide, Woolwich, also offer banking services.

For currency exchange information look here.

You will find cash machines in several locations in Dunoon and also at Inveraray and Arrochar

You can find something of the history of Scottish bank notes here