The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) will launch its new retail bond initiative in St. Kitts and Nevis at the end of October, introducing a significantly lower investment threshold aimed at encouraging wider participation from citizens.
ECCB Governor Timothy Antoine announced that the new retail bonds—to be introduced simultaneously in Grenada—will allow individuals to invest with a minimum of just EC $500, down from the previous EC $5,000 entry point. The move, he said, is designed to make investment opportunities more inclusive and accessible across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).
During the OECS Credit Union Summit in September, Governor Antoine described the initiative as a major stride in the region’s financial inclusion agenda. “We want to ease up the investment approach for these lower amounts,” he explained. “We don’t want to stand in the way now and stand on ceremony and ask people their whole life story before they can invest.”
He added that the ECCB’s intention is not to pressure citizens but to empower them. “Don’t harass the people to invest the money. We want people to have the chance to participate easily, to invest, to earn, and to build wealth over time.”
The retail bond initiative forms part of the ECCB’s broader financial literacy and capital market development strategy, aimed at fostering regional growth through participation by ordinary citizens rather than institutional investors alone. Antoine emphasised that the launch represents a deliberate shift toward wealth creation within the population.
“We now have three collective investment schemes, including two mutual funds in our region. So we’re not just talking about it; we’re actually supporting products that will help us to move,” he said.
The ECCB anticipates strong public interest in the new retail bonds, which provide a safe, government-backed avenue for citizens to invest small sums while supporting national development. According to Governor Antoine, the initiative is “not just about raising funds but about empowering people to participate in the economic growth of their countries.”
The retail bonds will be available through authorised financial institutions and online investment platforms, with the ECCB providing support and educational materials to help new investors understand how to participate responsibly.
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