There are a number of banks in Antigua & Barbuda which welcome expat account holders. Many of these are international banks such as Scotiabank and Barclays. Opening an account in advance with one of these banks may be a good idea, particularly if you already have an account with them in your country of origin. However, you will still be subject to the same identification checks and not all banks can offer this service. Local banks in Antigua will prefer you to open the account in person at a local branch.

Banking hours in the country are from 8 am to 1 pm from Monday to Thursday. The banks are open longer on a Friday as they do not close until 4 pm. The Bank of Antigua also opens on a Saturday morning, so if you think you may have difficulty getting to the bank during the week it may be worth considering the Bank of Antigua for your new account.

Current accounts will usually issue you with a debit card and a cheque book, although this will vary from bank to bank as some of them are now phasing out cheques. Larger shops and stores will take cards but you should be aware that you will need to have cash for smaller outlets. You should also be aware that some places may also work with US dollars as well as the East Caribbean dollar, so it is a good idea to check which price you are being quoted. If you are originally from the US it is worth opening your bank account in US dollars and using only this currency, for simplicity’s sake.

Opening an account as an expat is straightforward. You will need all the relevant identification documentation such as a passport, driver’s licence and visa documentation. Proof of address such as a utility bill or a tenancy agreement will also be required and some banks may expect you to produce references from other organisations, such as your current bank, your employer or an Antiguan national. The exact requirements of each bank are different and it is a good idea to visit a few in advance to clarify what each expects so you can be better prepared.

You will need to complete an application form when you want to open the account and some banks will be happy to open the account immediately for you, although others will expect you to wait a few days before completing the account details. This will depend on the facilities that you have asked for with your account. Those who want to have credit facilities will be subject to a credit check. If you are opening the account with an international bank that you have an existing account with, this process may be simpler, but a foreign national who has just arrived in the country will have no credit history there so this could be difficult.

Once you have been in the country for a few months then most banks will be happy to consider you for loans and mortgages if you can prove that you can make the repayments. Other products that banks in Antigua and Barbuda can advise on include pensions and investments although you may need to visit a larger branch to speak to a qualified advisor.

An international bank has the added advantage of making international transactions quickly and more easily than a local bank, which may take extra time to make those transfers and cash foreign cheques. Some banks also offer the opportunity to open an account in another currency, such as USD or GBP. This is ideal for those expats that are retiring and will be receiving payments from abroad on a regular basis.

Most banks in Antigua and Barbuda have online and telephone banking facilities. All bills can be paid online for the account holder’s convenience. The banks also have customer services departments that can be contacted by telephone if you need extra help and some of these can be contacted outside of normal banking hours. There are also few restrictions on using different branches for your transactions, although some banks may charge if you wish to use the ATM of another bank.