financial inclusion Jamaica

Jamaica’s ABM network experienced its worst month of 2025 in November, with national uptime collapsing to 77.1% as Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath continued to ravage the network. Victoria Mutual’s uptime crashed to 67.5% — the worst single-institution reading of the year — as two of three regions fell below BOJ compliance standards. Scotia Bank lost 25+ machines to water damage.

Jamaica received US$281.2 million in remittances in November 2025, a 14.2% year-on-year surge — the strongest monthly performance of 2025 — as the UK corridor climbed to a series-high 12.5% share and cumulative inflows recovered to 3.0% growth year-on-year.

Jamaica processed 4.2 million RTGS transactions worth JMD 22.4 trillion through October 2025, as cheque volumes fell 22.4% year-to-date and JMD ABM transaction values surged 21.6%. A sharp paradox emerged as POS terminals grew 9.7% but transactions fell 11.3%. Hurricane Melissa disrupted October’s payment infrastructure.

Hurricane Melissa forced selective machine decommissioning and caused power and telecommunications outages across Jamaica in October 2025, driving national ABM uptime down to 90.6% from September’s 93.6% record. JN Bank recovered to 90.5% uptime from September’s 76.9% crash, while JMMB deteriorated to 88.4%. Sagicor achieved a near-perfect 99.0%.

Jamaica’s remittance inflows fell a steep 8.3% in October 2025 to US$238.0 million — the second monthly decline in three months and the worst year-on-year contraction in the 2025 data series. Cumulative 2025 growth decelerated sharply to +1.9% as Canada ceded second-corridor position back to the UK at 10.9%.

Jamaica’s JAMCLEAR-RTGS processed 4.2 million transactions worth JMD 22.4 trillion through October 2025, as cheque volumes fell 22.4% year-to-date and JMD ABM transaction values surged 21.6%. A sharp paradox emerged as POS terminals grew 9.7% but transactions fell 11.3%, while Hurricane Melissa added weather disruption to October’s payment landscape.

Jamaica’s payment system crossed the J$20 trillion RTGS settlement milestone through September 2025, with electronic payments at 161.96 million year-to-date and the POS network growing to 34,245 terminals, even as retail transaction volumes normalised from the summer peak.

Jamaica’s ABM network achieved a record 98.2% operational rate in September 2025, with 888 of 904 machines active and the Kingston Metropolitan Area delivering a perfect 100% score. The milestone was shadowed by JN Bank’s collapse to 76.9% uptime — the worst single-institution reading of the year — and NCB’s unusual dip to 92.7%.

Jamaica’s remittance inflows rebounded 5.1% in September 2025 to US$267.6 million, reversing August’s historic first decline of the year. The US corridor returned to year-on-year growth at 68.0%, ending five consecutive monthly declines, while Canada and the UK tied at 11.0% each — the first such tie on record. Cumulative January–September inflows reached US$2.59 billion, up 2.9%.

Jamaica’s remittance inflows rebounded 5.1% in September 2025 to US$267.6 million, reversing August’s decline. The US corridor returned to year-on-year growth at 68.0%, ending five consecutive monthly declines, while Canada and the UK tied at 11.0% each — the first such tie on record. Cumulative January–September inflows reached US$2.59 billion, up 2.9%.

Jamaica’s payment system settled J$17.66 trillion cumulatively through RTGS in the first eight months of 2025 as the POS network surpassed 34,000 terminals for the first time and the CSD crossed US$2 billion in securities settlements, even as August transaction volumes moderated from July’s summer peak.

Jamaica’s ABM network recorded 95.8 per cent operational share and 93.8 per cent uptime in August 2025 — the best combined result in the 2025 series — but JMMB Bank’s 83.4 per cent uptime despite 100 per cent operational availability emerged as a new concern, even as CIBC Caribbean recovered from July’s difficulties.

Jamaica’s remittances fell 3.0 per cent in August 2025 to US$271.7 million, the first year-on-year decline of the year, as Canada surpassed the UK as the second-largest corridor at 11.5 per cent, the US share hit a series-low 67.5 per cent, and both formal and informal channels contracted for the first time.

Jamaica’s remittance inflows fell 3.0% in August 2025 to US$271.7 million — the first year-on-year decline recorded in 2025 — as the US corridor hit a series low of 67.5% and both transfer channels contracted simultaneously for the first time this year. Canada surpassed the UK as the second-largest remittance corridor in a historic milestone.

Jamaica’s remittance inflows fell 3.0% in August 2025 to US$271.7 million — the first year-on-year decline recorded in 2025 — as the US corridor hit a series low of 67.5% and both transfer channels contracted simultaneously for the first time this year. Canada surpassed the UK as the second-largest remittance corridor.