Its cluster of natural attractions neither disappoint nor under whelm and you can lose yourself quite easily in the exploration of its diverse cultural heritage. What may not be quite so obvious is the equally diverse investment landscape that Saint Lucia has to offer to the financially savvy visitor.

Saint Lucia is a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), a sub-regional group of nine islands that is at a pivotal stage in the development of its capital market. Additionally, the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE) and the government platform – the Regional Government Securities Market (RGSM) – have provided a new avenue for both local and foreign investors.

Investment
As a visitor to Saint Lucia, you certainly have some solid investment options and a key financial institution that can offer these is East Caribbean Financial Holding Company Ltd. (ECFH). A major player on the ECSE, ECFH is the parent company of six subsidiaries, the largest of which is Bank of Saint Lucia Ltd. Through its Wealth and Asset Management Division (WAM), Bank of Saint Lucia can provide you with investment management advice that is compatible with your lifestyle.

Products
Whether you are visiting Saint Lucia for just a month or you plan to make it your home for half the year, WAM provides you with portfolio management services that offer attractive returns with minimum exposure to risk. Available investment products are fixed income securities, primarily corporate and government bonds and treasury bills, equity or shares in companies and money market instruments. Government bonds and treasury bills would be acquired via the Regional Government Securities platform of the ECSE. Most securities in our jurisdiction would be denominated in United States Dollars (USD) and Eastern Caribbean Dollars (XCD).

For convenience and flexibility, WAM can offer you the following investment products: the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) and the Repurchase Agreement Certificate. The GIC is a fixed deposit that pays a predetermined interest rate over a specified term. Typically, the interest rate on GICs is above the normal rate on savings deposits and the term of the investments could range from 30 days up to three years. GICs are backed by the issuer’s full faith and credit worthiness. WAM’s Repurchase Agreement Certificate offers you similar flexibility whereby a price is agreed on purchase, with the agreement by the issuer to repurchase the instrument at a higher price at a specified future date, ranging typically from 30 days to one year. These certificates issued by the Bank are backed by an underlying security, typically a government bond assigned to the investor for the period of time over which the certificate is held.

Saint Lucia is an idyllic visitor destination not just for its tropical charm but also for its safe and savvy investment expertise.

Contact
Bank of Saint Lucia
Tel: (758) 456 6104, Fax: (758) 456 6190
Email: info@bankofsaintlucia.com