If the standard format pattern for currency (i.e. "¤#,##0.##;¤-#,##0.##" ) does not work you. You can go down the route of putting the information in the database and then extract it and send it to the report as a parameter. You would then have something like this in the textfield of your report. CONCATENATE( $P{Currency_Symbol}, " ",TEXT( $F{CASH_SALES},$P{Currency_Format})," ") where Currency_Symbol = "£" and Currency_Format = "#,##0.##;-#,##0.##"