DUBAI: UAE banks have started enforcing rules by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates to turn down old checks and accept only those with high security standards within a drive to combat forgery and ensure monetary stability. UAE banks, which control the largest asset base in the Arab region, have already stopped issuing old check books for clients and are replacing existing books with new ones that are compatible with those defined by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates. In a circular to banks in late 2009, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates asked them to switch to the new money tools in a bid to prevent fraud and set a deadline at the end of 2010. The circular also told the banks to ensure that the new checks to be issued are Thermo-chromic Sensitive and Chemical Sensitive. While being thermo chromic sensitive will prevent fraudsters from using the color photocopy of checks to cheat unsuspecting people, the chemical sensitivity will render it impossible for anyone to tamper with the signature or remove or alter the content on the check leaf. Bankers said the country's 23 national banks and 28 foreign institutions stopped accepting old checks issued by the central bank last year. All banks were able to meet the central bank deadline.