The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago published its Year 5, Half Year 1 project implementation update for its 2021/22–2025/26 Strategic Plan, summarising delivery from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026 and outlining priorities for the final half-year. The update centres on payment-system and digital-finance initiatives, strengthened supervisory approaches, and operational work supporting the transition to currency bearing the new national Coat of Arms. On payments and digital finance, WamNow Technologies Limited was formally registered as an e-money issuer after completing its provisional period, enabling it to offer e-money accounts and related payment and money-transfer services via its digital wallet. The update also points to progress under the Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, which received Presidential assent and introduced a temporary prohibition on virtual-asset business activities until 31 December 2026, subject to an exception for entities authorised under the Trinidad and Tobago Securities Exchange Commission’s Regulatory Sandbox, alongside compliance deadlines including 22 January 2026 for mandatory notifications and Sandbox applications and 7 April 2026 for cessation of non-qualifying operations. On supervision, the updated Risk-Based Supervision Framework became effective from 1 October 2025 across banking and insurance, and liquidation proceedings for British American Insurance Company (Trinidad) Limited were initiated under the Insurance Act, 2018 on 23 January 2026, with safeguards described as aimed at policyholder protection and market stability. Looking ahead, the Bank flagged preparation for a new five-year strategic plan cycle beginning 1 October 2026, continued work to finalise the Payments Systems and Services Bill and Regulations through 2026, and further implementation activity for the CARICOM Payment and Settlement System over the next 6–12 months. It also set out next steps for the currency transition, including infrastructure and cash-processing upgrades and a public education campaign from mid-2026 ahead of the Series 2026 TTD 100 note entering circulation by August 2026, while continuing its review of the future of the 5-cent coin through 2026. Pilot testing of a selected supervisory technology platform is expected to start in the coming months to support data collection, analytics and real-time risk monitoring.
Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago 2026-04-01
Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago reports Year 5 strategic plan progress on payments reform, virtual-asset controls and risk-based supervision
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago issued a Year 5, Half Year 1 update on its 2021/22–2025/26 Strategic Plan, highlighting progress on payment-system and digital-finance initiatives, supervisory reforms, and the transition to currency bearing the new national Coat of Arms. Key developments include full registration of WamNow Technologies Limited as an e-money issuer, commencement of the Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers Act with a temporary prohibition on most virtual-asset business, implementation of an updated risk-based supervision framework for banking and insurance, and initiation of liquidation proceedings for British American Insurance Company (Trinidad) Limited. Priorities through 2026 include finalising the Payments Systems and Services Bill and Regulations, further rollout of the CARICOM Payment and Settlement System, a phased currency transition with a new Series 2026 TTD 100 note, and pilot testing of a new supervisory technology platform.