Bank Account Opening in Antigua & Barbuda

Foreigners and citizens living abroad can open a bank account in Antigua and Barbuda. Banks on the islands treat non-resident applicants as higher risk, so they ask for more evidence than they ask from residents. An Antigua bank account opening is an application, not a purchase: the bank runs its own anti-money-laundering checks and can decline without giving every reason. We prepare the pack the bank asks for, including references and source-of-funds papers, and stay on the application until the bank opens the account or declines it.

The legal background

Account opening is governed by the Money Laundering (Prevention) Regulations rather than a banking statute. If a bank cannot obtain satisfactory evidence of your identity, it must not open the account. The regulations also require banks to take extra care when the customer is not physically present, which is why remote applicants are asked for certified documents and references. The regulations do not set a document list; each bank writes its own.

Documents banks commonly ask for

The published checklist of Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank for non-residents is typical:

• A legible copy of a valid photo ID for each signatory, with the passport as the primary ID
• Proof of address, such as a utility bill or bank statement
• A bank reference
• A signed letter stating your profession, the purpose of the account, the amount you expect to deposit or wire each year, and the source of those funds
• A copy of the non-citizens land holding licence, if you own land in Antigua

CIBC Caribbean asks non-residents for one valid ID, confirmation of address, a banker's reference (or a recent bank statement if unavailable), up to two character references, and evidence of the source of funds, such as a job letter or pay slip.

Certified copies

When the bank's staff do not see your original documents, the copies must be certified as true copies. CIBC Caribbean accepts certification by a notary public or justice of the peace, a lawyer, a certified accountant, a senior banker, a senior civil servant, a member of the judiciary, or a consular officer, who adds a seal and a date. Documents in a language other than English may need a certified translation, done after the certification.

Account types and currencies

Banks offer savings and chequing accounts in Eastern Caribbean dollars (XCD), which are pegged to the US dollar, and many also offer US-dollar accounts. Each account type has its own minimum opening balance, set by the bank. Company accounts need the corporate documents, the registers of shareholders and directors, and identification for every director, signatory, and beneficial owner. International banking and offshore entities are supervised by the Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

Why applications get delayed or refused

• A purpose letter that is vague, or expected deposits that do not match your income or assets
• A bank or character reference that is older than the bank accepts
• Copies that are not certified, or certified by someone the bank does not accept
• An address that cannot be verified
• Missing answers on the tax-residence (FATCA/CRS) forms

Most of these are fixed before submission. That is the main reason to prepare the pack before the bank sees it.

Related to your application

A local account is often opened alongside other paperwork. If you hold or are applying for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment, the bank can ask for your certificate of registration or passport as part of its checks. Our guide on using a Antigua and Barbuda passport to open an offshore bank account explains how the passport is used in KYC. You can browse every Antigua and Barbuda service, including company incorporation, passport renewal, and the police clearance certificate.

• A check of which bank in Antigua and Barbuda will consider your nationality, residence, and planned use of the account
• A document checklist built from that bank's current rules for non-residents
• Review of your passport, second ID, proof of address, references, and source-of-funds papers before anything is sent
• Help arranging notarised or certified copies, apostilles, and translations when the bank asks for them
• Preparation of the bank's application, signature, and tax-residence (FATCA/CRS) forms
• Submission and follow-up with the bank, including answers to its compliance questions
• A clear note in advance if the bank wants a branch visit, a video call, or more documents
• For companies: preparation of the corporate pack (incorporation documents, registers, good standing, ownership chart, board resolution)

1. Brief. Tell us who the account is for (you, your family, or your company), where you live, the currencies you need, and what the account will be used for.
2. Bank match. We identify a bank in Antigua and Barbuda that accepts your profile and confirm its document list, whether it needs a visit, and its opening deposit and fees. You then receive our quote.
3. Document pack. You send scans; we check them, arrange notarised copies, references, or translations if needed, and fill in the bank's forms with you.
4. Submission. The signed forms and certified documents go to the bank, by courier where originals are required.
5. Compliance review. The bank runs its due-diligence checks and may ask follow-up questions about your income, assets, or planned transactions. We help you answer them.
6. Account opened. The bank confirms the account number and you fund the opening deposit. Cards and online-banking access follow on the bank's own timeline.
7. After opening. Keep your details up to date: banks ask account holders to refresh identification and address documents from time to time.

You receive a quote before any filing starts. It separates the CitizenX fee from the bank's opening deposit and charges, notarisation, apostille, translation, and courier costs. Those extras are added only when they apply, and only after you approve them.

Minimum opening deposits and monthly fees are set by each bank and differ by account type, so we confirm them with the chosen bank before you apply.