The practice of Northern Ireland and Scottish banks issuing their own banknotes can cause travellers problems, but this tale from Brussels takes the biscuit.
Back from a Belfast trip with Commissioner Pee Flynn, Irish Eurocrat Conor Leeson went to lodge some Northern notes in his account through the "European" branch, beside the Commission's HQ, of Belgium's largest bank, BBL.
No problem, said the staff, who proceeded, despite Leeson's protestations, to translate the cash from Irish pounds. Eventually he persuaded them they were wrong and the sterling lodgement was recorded. A few days later his bank statement informed him that the transaction was at the Irish pound rate. A head-office letter explained that the branch had made a mistake and enclosed a photocopy of one of the notes. On it are clearly written the words "Bank of Ireland - Please pay the bearer on demand £5 sterling". All attempts since to persuade BBL that Ireland has not united or that Northern Ireland has not joined the single Irish currency have failed, but the battle continues. Quidnunc understands that Conor Leeson is no relation to Nick Leeson, who brought down Barings Bank. Pity.