Norway’s state police unit in charge of economic crime, Økokrim, now wants to do away with the NOK 500-note along with the NOK 1,000-note. The finance ministry recently proposed pulling the NOK 1,000-note off the market on the grounds it’s too often used in criminal cash transactions or as a means of evading taxes. He would be happy to see both the NOK 1,000-note and the NOK 500-note withdrawn. Lønseth claimed cash with lower denominations can also be easier to use in cash transactions. Merchants, meanwhile, were slow to start accepting cash again but ended up being forced to do so, not least when having and using cash became part of Norway’s national security and preparedness guidelines.