Despite our earlier mockery of Sopron’s decision to start printing a “local currency” called the kékfrank (“Blue Frank”), the mayor of Kapuvár recently decided to go ahead with a similar scheme. According to hvg.hu, the will be issued by the same “bank” that is printing Sopron’s “money,” with the same security features that are integrated into the Ft 20,000 note. Meanwhile, other towns across the country are apparently rushing to introduce other half-baked plans to encourage locals to spend their money on local products and services.
While Sopron can apparently claim the honors of being the first major town in Hungary to print its own currency, Kaposvár is a leader in the issuing of discount cards that can be used to keep local consumers’ money local, a practice that has since spread to Miskolc and Pécs, among others.
Oddly, among the benefits you get with your Kaposvár card is discounts on fortune-telling. More oddly still is the fact that such cards seem to mostly offer discounts on public transportation, parking, and other more or less essential services that locals would buy locally anyway.