Payment methods in Antigua and Barbuda

DCash is the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's retail CBDC, launched in 2021 across ECCU member states including Antigua and Barbuda. The first successful consumer-to-merchant transaction took place in Grenada in February 2021. The pilot phase closed in January 2024, with the ECCB launching a request for vendor information for DCash 2.0, targeting full commercial deployment. DCash aims to improve financial inclusion and payment efficiency across the island economies.

WiPay is a Trinidad & Tobago-founded payment aggregator operating across 12 Caribbean countries, including the Eastern Caribbean. For merchants in Antigua and Barbuda, WiPay provides card processing, QR payment acceptance, and online payment infrastructure. It processes US$500M+ annually across the region and is a key enabler of Caribbean e-commerce.

International card schemes are the dominant electronic payment method in Antigua and Barbuda. Local banks including Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank (ECAB), Antigua Commercial Bank, and international banks such as CIBC FirstCaribbean and Scotiabank issue Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards. Cards are universally accepted in tourism-oriented businesses and major retailers.

Interbank transfers through the Eastern Caribbean automated clearing infrastructure allow consumers and businesses to move funds between accounts at participating banks. Online banking platforms from CIBC FirstCaribbean, Scotiabank, and local banks enable electronic transfers for bill payments and larger transactions.