CROWN Agents Bank (CAB) has announced that it has received authorisation from the Bank of Guyana to establish a representative office in Guyana, marking a major expansion of the international financial institution’s footprint in the region.
According to a statement issued by the bank on Thursday, CAB expects to open the office during the second half of this year, creating what it described as a permanent on-the-ground presence in South America.
The institution said it was one of only three international financial institutions, alongside two major United States global banks, invited by the Central Bank of Guyana and the Ministry of Finance to establish a permanent presence in the country.
CAB noted that the move reflects its long-standing relationship with Guyana, particularly during periods when access to international financial markets and correspondent banking services became increasingly difficult for the country.
The bank said the representative office will strengthen client engagement, relationship management and market development, while enabling closer collaboration with public and private sector entities, financial institutions and partners in Guyana and across the wider Americas.
Crown Agents Bank is a United Kingdom-regulated financial institution focused on emerging markets. The bank provides specialist foreign exchange (FX), cross-border payments, trade finance and treasury management services, with a stated mission of supporting prosperity in hard-to-reach regions.
For more than 30 years, CAB said it has supported Guyana by providing specialist foreign exchange, payments and cross-border banking services that helped connect the country to global financial markets.
The bank highlighted Guyana’s rapid economic transformation, noting that the country recorded the highest real GDP growth rate in the world between 2022 and 2024, averaging 47 per cent annually.
According to CAB, this growth has been driven by Guyana’s natural resource wealth, the expansion of the energy sector, increasing infrastructure investment and broader efforts aimed at translating economic growth into long-term national prosperity.
The release stated that as Guyana continues to emerge as one of the hemisphere’s fastest-growing economies, dependable financial connectivity to international markets is becoming increasingly critical.
CAB added that the Guyana office will further strengthen its growing Americas platform, following the establishment of its New York representative office in 2025, and enhance the bank’s ability to support financial flows across South America, the Caribbean and the wider Global South.
Chief Executive Officer for the Americas at Crown Agents Bank, Jeff Angard, said the bank’s decision to establish a permanent office demonstrates its commitment to Guyana’s long-term development.
“Guyana’s story is one of resilience, ambition and extraordinary potential. Crown Agents Bank has been part of that story for more than three decades, and our decision to establish a permanent office is a clear signal that we are here to support the country’s long-term ambitions,” Angard said.
He added “At a time when Guyana is playing an increasingly prominent role in the global economy, trusted financial connectivity matters more than ever. Our focus is to support clients with the specialist FX, payments and cross-border banking expertise they need to move money securely, efficiently and transparently.”
