The Bristol Pound is real money made for Bristol. It is designed to support independent businesses in and around Bristol, retaining and multiplying the benefit of every pound spent for ordinary people and businesses, today an official launch date of September 19th 2012 was announced.

A local currency for Bristol has been in the pipeline for some time. From May this year people and businesses have been registering their intention to use Bristol Pounds and apply for a Bristol Pound account with Bristol Credit Union. This will allow them to exchange sterling for the same number of Bristol Pounds via conventional bank transfer or salary payments and start spending with hundreds, and in time thousands, of businesses that benefit by joining the scheme. Shoppers will be able to use a fast secure mobile phone payment system, online payments and the stunning paper Bristol Pounds.

As more and more shoppers and businesses spend the Bristol Pound, it will keep more of people’s hard earned wages in our communities to be spent again. People in Bristol who love the range of independent traders will be putting their money where it matters and reduce the need for lorries constantly moving goods up and down the country. The scheme is also a powerful way to promote local businesses trading with each other. Bristol Pound are hopeful they will have thousands signed up before the currency goes in to circulation on September 19th.

If you haven’t yet done so, register your interest in opening a Bristol Pound account here and we will be be in touch soon to ensure you are all set to go on September 19th.