The US Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is the
largest producers of security documents in the United States. The BEP prints
billions of US Federal Reserve Notes for delivery to the Federal Reserve System
each year (the BEP does not produce coins - all coinage is produced by the
United States Mint). These notes are produced at the BEP facilities in Washington
DC and Fort Worth, Texas. The BEP produces several other specialty printing
products, such as hand engraved invitations on behalf of the White House and
various miscellaneous security documents for other government agencies.
The
BEP manufactures the financial and other securities of the United
States. Accordingly, the Bureau designs, prints and furnishes a large variety
of security products, including Federal Reserve notes, Treasury securities,
identification cards, naturalization certificates, and other special security
documents.
For 111 years, the Bureau produced US postage stamps for the U.S.
Postal Service but in mid-2005, the Bureau ceased U.S. postage stamp
production.
All products are designed and manufactured with advanced counterfeit
deterrence features to ensure product integrity and the Bureau advises other
Federal agencies on document security matters. The Bureau also processes claims
for the redemption of mutilated currency. The Bureau's research and development
efforts focus on the continued use of automation in the production process and
counterfeit deterrent technologies for use in security documents, especially
US currency.
