The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets has published updated benchmark amounts used to determine the maximum credit that can be responsibly granted in the Caribbean Netherlands, applying from 1 April 2026. The amounts, set in the Financial Markets BES Regulation 2012 and indexed annually, feed into lenders’ creditworthiness assessments for both mortgages and consumer credit. The benchmarks represent standard living costs and vary by household composition and by island. The 2026 update reflects 2025 consumer price index increases of 4.3% on Bonaire, 1.8% on Sint Eustatius and 3.8% on Saba, and is incorporated into a revised table covering both benchmark amounts and standard housing costs. The AFM’s “Model maximum credit provision” is used to determine the maximum responsible lending amount, with the monthly financing space calculation set out in the Financial Markets BES Decree; the test combines a fixed component (the benchmark amount) with an income-dependent component.
Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets 2026-03-19
Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets updates Caribbean Netherlands benchmark amounts used to cap responsible lending from 1 April 2026
The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets has updated benchmark amounts for determining maximum credit in the Caribbean Netherlands, effective 1 April 2026. These benchmarks, reflecting 2025 consumer price index increases, vary by household composition and island, and are used in creditworthiness assessments for mortgages and consumer credit. The updates are incorporated into a revised table in the Financial Markets BES Regulation 2012.