The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has officially released its 2025–2026 Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, revealing a year of robust financial growth and the launch of an ambitious strategic plan to transform the regional economy. In a sit-down interview, Governor Timothy Antoine characterized the report as a “report card” on the health of the currency union, highlighting the bank’s role in improving the lives of citizens through monetary and financial stability.
The ECCB recorded a significant net profit of $121.6 million for the financial year ending March 31, 2026. The bank’s total assets increased from 6.1 billion to 6.7 billion, a growth driven largely by foreign reserves, which rose to $6 billion. Governor Antoine noted that these results reflect “prudent management” and “demonstrated confidence” in the bank’s leadership.
On the regional front, the ECCU economy grew by an estimated 2.5% in 2025. While growth has slowed compared to the immediate post-pandemic rebound, it remains on a positive trajectory, fueled primarily by tourism and construction. However, the Governor acknowledged that many citizens continue to face challenges with high prices for food and fuel, exacerbated by global developments such as oil shocks in the Middle East.
The report indicates that the regional banking system remains stable and resilient, with banks being well-capitalized and non-performing loans in decline. To further protect consumers and enhance access to services, the ECCB is advancing several key initiatives:
- Office of Financial Conduct: Soon to be launched to ensure fair treatment of customers and transparent pricing.
- Regional Credit Bureau: Advancing work on “Every Data ECCU Limited” to provide credit data that will help banks make lending decisions more efficiently and potentially lower interest rates for borrowers.
- Financial Inclusion: The bank is promoting the “First Step Account,” a basic, interest-bearing bank account requiring no minimum deposit and simplified ID requirements to ensure the financial system works for everyone except illicit actors.
A central theme of the report is the “Big Push” strategic plan, which challenges the region to double the size of the ECCU economy over the next decade. Out of seven strategic priorities, Governor Antoine identified human capital and skills as the most critical for long-term competitiveness. Other priorities, such as food and nutrition security, energy resilience, and digital transformation, are aimed at reducing the cost of living and increasing regional self-reliance.
The Governor also looked ahead to several historic events scheduled for July 2026:
- July 7: The 50th anniversary of the EC dollar’s peg to the US dollar (at a rate of 2.7 to 1).
- July 9: The unveiling of new banknotes and coins in Dominica, which will feature images of national heroes for the first time in the bank’s history.
Governor Antoine concluded by emphasizing that the ECCB cannot achieve these transformative goals alone, calling for collective action from residents, citizens, and development partners to “accelerate and elevate” the region’s development trajectory.