Anegada ATM expected to be installed soon

Residents and visitors to Anegada are still waiting for a promised ATM, and Junior Minister for Trade & Economic Development Lorna Smith says the delay has little to do with local red tape and everything to do with limited regional banking infrastructure.

Speaking recently on the Talking Points radio show, Smith said the National Bank of the Virgin Islands is still committed to installing an ATM on the sister island, but the process has been slowed because the specialised hardware and technical support required are not available in the Virgin Islands.

According to Smith, local banks must depend on a small number of regional service providers to supply and install the necessary equipment, creating a bottleneck that can leave institutions waiting for extended periods.

“Banks have to stand in line,” Smith explained, noting that she was told the installation of the most recent ATM at Soper’s Hole took approximately two years to complete.

However, the minister was quick to caution against assuming Anegada will face a similar timeline.

“I certainly hope that it is not going to take that kind of time,” Smith said, adding that she did not want to create the impression that residents could be waiting years for the service.

Smith said the groundwork for the ATM has already been completed, including securing a location, and she has been working closely with Anegada’s district representative to move the project forward.

“It’s just to get everything installed,” she said.

The delay is likely to frustrate Anegada residents, many of whom have long complained about limited access to essential banking services on the island. The absence of an ATM also affects visitors, particularly yacht passengers and tourists who may need quick access to cash while on the island.

Smith argued that despite growing conversations around digital payments, physical cash remains essential.

“Cash is still king,” the minister said. “Even persons who are on boats on Anegada, they need to go to an ATM.”

The minister also pointed to broader banking access improvements, noting that CIBC has already expanded its ATM network elsewhere in the territory.

Still, no firm timeline has been given for when Anegada’s machine will finally go live, with Smith suggesting the bank itself remains cautious about making promises it may not be able to keep.