The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has announced plans to introduce deposit insurance across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) as part of its newly launched 2026-2031 Strategic Plan. According to Antigua.news, Governor Timothy N.J. Antoine said the measure is aimed at strengthening protection for depositors across the eight-member currency union.
Antoine unveiled the initiative during the launch of "The Big Push: Collective Action for Shared Prosperity in the ECCU," where he outlined several financial stability measures the bank intends to implement over the next five years.
"Job number two is [to] keep your deposits safe," Antoine told those gathered for the launch. "Under this plan we will introduce deposit insurance to strengthen depositor protection."
The governor placed deposit insurance under the plan's second pillar of financial stability, which he described as one of the ECCB's two core responsibilities alongside monetary stability. He noted that without stability there can be no confidence, investment, or sustained growth.
The bank also plans to establish an Office of Financial Conduct, tasked with holding banks accountable and ensuring fair treatment of customers. Antoine said the ECCB will exercise oversight of bank fees and charges as part of that mandate.
"The first two pillars, monetary stability and financial stability, are our core responsibilities," Antoine said, adding that without these foundations, the broader development ambitions of the strategic plan cannot be realised.
Deposit insurance schemes protect depositors by guaranteeing a portion of their savings in the event a financial institution fails. No timeline or coverage limits for the proposed ECCU scheme were outlined at the launch.
Deputy Governor Dr. Valda Henry, who delivered opening remarks, said the plan was designed to go beyond incremental change. "This is a time for bold, coordinated, and transformative action," Henry said, noting that achieving the plan's objectives would require cooperation among governments, financial institutions, the private sector, development partners, and citizens.
The 2026-2031 strategic plan is organised around six themes: maintaining monetary stability, preserving financial stability, advancing payment modernisation and financial inclusion, promoting inclusive economic growth and partnerships, enabling a digital and data-driven culture, and enhancing organisational effectiveness.
Theresa Smith, Director of the ECCB's Corporate Governance Unit, presented an overview of the plan and described its structure as built around strategic themes, objectives, and initiatives designed to be monitored, evaluated, and adjusted over time. "The 2026-2031 ECCB strategic plan provides a framework of practical trackable actions," Smith said.
