Bank of England Denies Printing Pound Notes on Canva

Bank of England Denies Printing Pound Notes on Canva

Officials claim the Comic Sans watermark was “just a test.”

By Marco Rossi – Monetary Policy Satirist

The Rumor That Shook the Pound

London’s financial gossip channels lit up this week with an unusual claim. Screenshots circulated online suggesting the Bank of England was designing new pound notes using Canva, the free graphic design app beloved by small businesses and students. The alleged leaks showed pound templates in Comic Sans with stock photo watermarks still visible.

The story instantly went viral. Could Britain’s central bank really be minting currency with the same tool people use to make birthday flyers? The Bank rushed to deny the allegations, but the memes had already taken on a life of their own.

Officials Push Back

A stern spokesperson declared, “The Bank of England does not and has never used Canva to produce legal tender.” They blamed the rumors on manipulated images spread through social media. Yet their denial carried little weight. People were already joking that Canva offered more stability than actual monetary policy.

In Parliament, one MP quipped, “If the bank is using free trials for our currency, perhaps it explains why inflation is running free too.” The chamber erupted in laughter while officials buried their heads in papers.

Fake or Real?

Polls popped up across TikTok and Instagram asking if the rumor was genuine. A surprising number of voters clicked “real.” One user commented, “Feels too on brand for Britain right now.” Another wrote, “Fake, but I want it to be true. At least then I can edit my own money.”

The fact that people struggled to decide shows just how fragile confidence in institutions has become. If the public can believe in Canva Cash, they can believe in anything.

Meme Avalanche

Within hours, social media was flooded with parodies. One viral post showed a £50 note redesigned in neon colors with glitter fonts and the caption “Limited Edition Canva Banknote.” Another showed Big Ben next to the Canva logo with the tagline “Designed in Minutes, Trusted for Centuries.”

TikTok creators joined in with mock tutorials: “How to design your own currency in five easy steps.” The joke spread so far that some shops reportedly printed fake Canva notes and taped them to their tills as decoration.

Top Comments from the Internet

• “Finally, a bank I can trust to use drag and drop.”
• “Inflation is bad, but clip art is worse.”
• “If my money has Comic Sans, does that mean my savings are a joke?”

Why It Resonates

The rumor hit a nerve because it reflects real frustrations. People already feel their money is losing value faster than ever. Seeing it tied to free design software only confirmed the sense that institutions no longer care.

An economist from LSE joked, “If Canva isn’t used yet, maybe it should be. At least then ordinary people could submit design feedback.” The comment itself became a meme on finance blogs.

Satirical Vision of the Future

Imagine a Britain where every new note is crowdsourced. Citizens log in, vote on templates, and watch their money become more colorful by the month. Inflation may erode value, but at least it looks cheerful.

A popular meme suggested “premium banknotes” with Canva Pro features, while free accounts only got watermarked fivers. Another imagined collectible notes with seasonal themes: Halloween pounds, Christmas tenners, and Valentine’s twenties.

Conclusion

Whether the Bank of England really experimented with Canva or not almost doesn’t matter. The rumor captured the absurd spirit of the times. When people are ready to believe central banks design money on free apps, it shows how deep the distrust runs.

So the next time you pull out a note, check closely. If you see Comic Sans or a stock photo watermark, don’t panic. Just remember, in 2025, even your savings might be a design project.

By Marco Rossi – Monetary Policy Satirist
marco.rossi@londonews.com