ECCB 2018-2019 Annual Report and Statement of Accounts

| EASTERN CARIBBEAN CENTRAL BANK ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019

Deliver New Risk Management Infrastructure to Support the ECCU Financial Sector

ECCU Deposit Insurance Fund

The Bank finalised its policy paper on deposit insurance, which was presented to the Monetary Council for approval. Going forward,

stakeholders would be engaged to achieve consensus on a deposit insurance policy framework for the ECCU. The finalised policy

framework will form the basis for drafting of the deposit insurance legislation, which will inform the type and scale of the deposit insurance

fund. The establishment of an ECCU Deposit Insurance Fund will enhance the risk management infrastructure of the financial sector, thus

contributing to financial stability.

ECCU Credit Bureau

An international credit bureau was selected to apply for a licence to own and operate a credit bureau to serve the ECCU. The licensing

process is expected to be completed within the first two months of the 2019/20 financial year. In the interim, the Bank advances with its

efforts to establish a comprehensive credit reporting regulatory framework and to coordinate pre-development process activities. The Bank

will also be coordinating the delivery of public awareness and education activities, during the 2019/20 financial year.

Improve Payments Infrastructure to Adapt to Evolving Market Expectations

The Eastern Caribbean Payments Council was reinstituted in May 2018. The key objectives of the Payments Council is to promote

operational efficiency, security and integrity of payment and settlement systems in the ECCU.

The National Automated Clearing House Association Pre-arranged Payment and Deposit (NACHA PPD) standard was introduced in the

ECCU in May/June 2018 through an initiative undertaken to modernise the payment system by the Eastern Caribbean Automated Clearing

House Services Incorporated. Under this initiative, citizens have the option to make Eastern Caribbean dollar payments to any recipient

with an account held at any commercial bank across the ECCU. The Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) product provides a safer, faster, more

convenient and more cost-effective option for making payments.

The Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (CPSS-IOSCO) Principles

for Financial Market Infrastructures (PFMI) was approved by the Monetary Council and has been adopted as the standard. Financial Market

Infrastructures (FMIs) would be required to observe this standard within the ECCU.

The Eastern Caribbean Payments Council was first established

in 2006 to provide advice on and oversight of the operations

and developments of the payments system. It is responsible for

facilitating the efficient and stable functioning of the payments

system in the ECCU. The Payments Council is also charged with

ensuring the security and integrity of payments and settlement

systems in the ECCU; and promoting the innovative nature of

payments, the safety of cashless payments and their accessibility

to users.

Deputy Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Trevor

Brathwaite is the Chairman of the Payments Council. Brathwaite

says the reconstitution of the Payments Council is timely given

the increase in the use of technology to conduct payments and

the need to ensure that citizens of the region are not adversely

affected by developments taking place in the payments and

settlements system.

FINANCIAL SECTOR STABILITY

Eastern Caribbean Payments Council