Banking
Bank of St Helena, Jamestown
There is one bank on the Island; the Bank of St Helena whose range of services includes, Local Debit Cards (for use on St Helena and Ascension Island only), Online Banking and International Remittance.
The currency is the St Helena Pound which is equivalent to the British Pound (GBP) and both are accepted on the Island. Local currency is only accepted on St Helena and Ascension Island.
There are no ATMs on the island, however, international credit or debit cards can be used at the Bank in Jamestown. There is a 5% charge on the value of the amount withdrawn, with a minimum charge of £2.50.
Cards accepted are Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and Maestro and must be accompanied by photo identification.
The Local Debit Card is free of charge to customers and can be used in the majority of stores around the island, with some offering a cashback service. There are a few smaller stores that still operate on a cash basis only but may accept Bank cheques.
The Bank opens weekdays from 8:45am to 3pm, Saturdays 8:30am to 12:30pm and is closed on Sundays. Visit their website for further opening hours of kiosks around the island.
It is worth starting the process for opening an account with the Bank of St Helena at the earliest opportunity. The length of time for application is dependent on the submission of supporting documentation required by the Bank (e.g. Passport, proof of St Helena Address). An application for an account can be completed online and will allow uploads of accompanying documentation required for opening the account.
Don’t forget to notify your UK or international bank that you are relocating to a different country.