Central Bank of Sint Maarten and Curaçao issues transition guidance ahead of Caribbean guilder launch

The Central Bank of Sint Maarten and Curaçao published operational guidance for the changeover from the Netherlands Antillean guilder (NAf) to the Caribbean guilder (Cg), including timelines for cash co-circulation, legal tender status, and expected disruptions to banking and payments during the conversion. Cash co-circulation will run from March 31 to June 30 2025, with cash payments accepted in both currencies and businesses initially allowed to give change in NAf if Cg banknotes are not yet sufficiently available. Commercial banks will close at noon on March 31 to prepare for the overnight conversion of digital payments from currency code ANG to XCG, with possible temporary disruption to online banking and ATMs as systems convert and machines are replenished with Cg notes; Visa and Mastercard transactions may be temporarily unavailable around midnight on April 1. NAf will cease to be legal tender on July 1 2025, while bank account balances will be automatically converted and NAf cash exchange will remain available at commercial banks through March 31 2026 and at CBCS for individuals without bank accounts through March 31 2055. The central bank also explained the adoption of the currency code XCG and noted it has proposed “Cg” as the currency symbol, alongside an ongoing public information campaign on the new notes’ security features and use of the My Caribbean Guilder app.