WILLEMSTAD - The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) hosted the Swift Payments Experience Roadshow on Monday, bringing together banks from across the region to discuss upcoming changes to international payments that will affect banks throughout the Dutch Caribbean.
Stricter address requirements
From 14 November 2026, Swift, the global messaging network banks use to process cross-border payments, will no longer accept unstructured address data. Banks will be required to include structured or hybrid address information in payment messages, or risk having payments rejected or delayed.
New system for smaller payments
Swift is also rolling out a new system this year for consumers and small businesses, aimed at giving them more clarity upfront on fees, exchange rates, delivery time and the amount a recipient will ultimately receive.
Correspondent banking under pressure
The changes are relevant across the wider region, including the BES islands, because international payments depend on correspondent banking relationships. Those relationships have been under pressure in the Caribbean for years, as foreign banks have at times ended ties as a precaution, a practice known as de-risking. This can contribute to financial exclusion and reduced transparency in the payment system.
Participants at the roadshow included banks from Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Aruba, international banks, the Curaçao Fintech Association and the Central Bank of Aruba. Speakers from Swift addressed the organization’s strategic direction, ways to improve the payment experience, and the upcoming Swift Standards Release 2026.
