CaribPR Wire

This agreement will focus on enabling intra and inter regional payments and expanding financial inclusion in the Caribbean.

CARIBPR WIRE, Miami, Florida, Mon. June 12th, 2023 – Mastercard, a global technology company in the payments industry, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Caribbean Association of Banks Inc (CAB), the representative body and recognized voice for banks and other financial institutions in the Caribbean.

The partnership’s central objective is to enable cross-border payments across all CAB member jurisdictions, as a powerful tool to tend to the region’s unbanked and underbanked populations and bolster financial inclusion and economic growth. As part of its commitment, Mastercard will activate its technology, resources, and expertise to help banks successfully integrate this innovative solution into their product offerings, as well as share its knowledge and educational platforms to raise awareness among citizens and small business owners on the benefits of this service and other digital financial tools that can help them reach their fullest potential and improve their living standards.

Mayra Vivacqua, Cluster Lead for Mastercard Caribbean (West & Dutch, Jamaica & East Caribbean, and Puerto Rico), said “We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with the Caribbean Association of Banks Inc, which will drive the region’s digitalization and offer customers across various sectors, including consumers, SMEs, government agencies, B2B, and commercial entities, a safer, easier, and more convenient way of transferring money across borders. The knowledge and data we will leverage from this collaboration will enable us to advance financial inclusion and stimulate economic growth in the Caribbean region.”

Mastercard Cross-Border Services help banks modernize and optimize their global payments business to deliver an experience for people and businesses that is secure, seamless, and certain. Ultimately, the collaboration between Mastercard and the Caribbean Association of Banks Inc will provide unbanked and underbanked populations in the English Caribbean access to modern financial services, allowing them to enjoy the benefits of the digital economy and providing them with priceless payment experiences.

“I am profoundly satisfied at the successful execution of this Memorandum of Understanding. Cognizant of the immense challenges faced by the region, concerning intra and inter regional payments, primarily as a result of the onslaught of de-risking activity, this is certainly a step in the right direction and exemplifies the tireless efforts of the CAB to identify innovative solutions to the challenges of present”, stated Wendy Delmar, Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Association of Banks Inc. “The CAB acknowledges the increasing costs and complexity related to the transfer of funds among jurisdictions and is pleased to provide an option to the public via our member banks that is cost efficient and underpinned by the adoption of technology”, she added.

This partnership is part of Mastercard’s commitment to offering solutions that respond to specific market needs, benefiting millions of people in the Caribbean and taking a significant step towards achieving financial inclusion in the region.

***

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA) www.mastercard.com

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships, and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A photo for use with this story is available HERE

PHOTO CAPTION: L-R: Mayra Vivacqua, Cluster Lead for Mastercard Caribbean (West & Dutch, Jamaica & East Caribbean, and Puerto Rico and Wendy Delmar, Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Association of Banks Inc.

CaribPR Wire, CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Thurs. Mar. 22, 2018: The Caribbean Association of Banks Inc., (CAB), is deeply concerned about the recent inclusion of Caribbean territories on the European Union Commission’s (EU) list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.

The list names countries which have not displayed sufficient commitment to the tax standards identified by the EU.

Blacklisting has debilitating effects on our Caribbean economies, specifically:

• It exacerbates the perception of our Region as ‘High Risk’ and consequently, negatively affects the risk profile of regional financial institutions and the willingness of correspondent banks to do business with them;
• It severely reduces critically-needed development funding from the EU and limits the ability of Caribbean territories to pursue their development goals; and
• It makes the region vulnerable to future sanctions and financial penalties, which may be levied against “blacklisted” jurisdictions.

Removal from the blacklist requires a high-level political commitment from the affected jurisdictions to address the deficiencies identified by the EU’s Code of Conduct Group. The status of Caribbean Territories as of March 13, 2018 by the OECD are as follows:

The EU has given the above countries specific timeframes to make high level commitments to address the deficiencies identified by the Code of Conduct group.  Some of the deficiencies identified in the various Caribbean jurisdictions are:

• Existence of Harmful and Preferential Tax Regimes;
• Non-application of Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (BEPS) minimum standards (tax avoidance strategies which seek to artificially shift profits to low/no tax jurisdictions); and
• Non-commitment to signing and ratifying the Convention of Mutual Administrative Assistance (Tax information exchange agreements to fight international tax evasion).

The CAB recognizes the efforts of regional governments thus far towards compliance with the OECD Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Standards. Nonetheless, the very challenging issue of harmful and preferential tax regimes needs to be addressed.

Consequently, the CAB:

1. Calls upon all regional governments concerned, to carefully assess the deficiencies identified by the EU and take the necessary actions to ensure compliance with Global Standards in order to avoid further reputational risk/damage to the region.
2. Strongly recommends continued collaboration and coordination among CARICOM Governments so as to take appropriate measures on key issues which can impact the financial services sector as well as the growth and development of regional economies.

The CAB is a community of banks and other financial institutions in the Caribbean Region, which proactively influences issues impacting the financial services sector through advocacy, education and networking. The CAB represents fifty-three (53) banks and financial institutions in the Caribbean with an asset base in excess of US$40 billion as at Dec 31, 2017, in addition to seventeen (17) Service members comprising regional and international technological and professional institutions and three (3) Honorary Members. For more information see www.cab-inc.com/

Media Contact:

Mary Popo

General Manager

Email: mary.popo@cab‐inc.com
Tel (758) 452‐2877