Do currency discriminators detect counterfeit bills?

Yes. Currency discriminators use multiple sensor technologies — CIS (contact image sensor), ultraviolet (UV), magnetic, and infrared (IR) — to detect counterfeit bills with a high degree of accuracy across multiple counterfeit methods.

Unlike basic currency counters that only tally totals, discriminators actively evaluate each bill for authenticity as it passes through the machine. UV sensors detect the fluorescent security threads embedded in genuine U.S. currency. Magnetic sensors read the magnetic ink used in official printing. IR sensors analyze the paper composition and printing patterns unique to legitimate bills. Together, these layers make it significantly harder for counterfeit notes to pass undetected.

For financial institutions, currency discriminators reduce the risk of accepting counterfeit bills at the teller line and during vault reconciliation. Higher-end models can also sort bills by denomination, flag suspect notes for manual review, and generate reports for compliance and audit purposes. CSG offers a range of currency discriminator configurations to match the transaction volume and workflow requirements of any branch.