Digital Payments & Fintech · Trinidad and Tobago
Fintech & digital payments rules in Trinidad and Tobago (2026)
Trinidad and Tobago shaded by its digital payments & fintech status
Trinidad and Tobago has an active but patchwork fintech licensing regime: non-bank e-money issuers register under the E-Money Issuer Order 2020 (as amended 2023), and payment service providers register under the Central Bank Act, with several licences already granted. A standalone draft Payment Systems and Services (PSS) Bill — currently in public consultation until 20 June 2026 — is intended to replace this fragmented framework with a comprehensive, risk-based payments law. Instant payment infrastructure is under development via a September 2024 agreement with NPCI International (India's UPI operator), with operationalisation targeted within the CBTT's 2026–2030 roadmap.
Key points
Non-bank entities may register as e-money issuers under the E-Money Issuer Order 2020 (as amended December 2023), administered by CBTT. Active registrations include Massy Remittance Services (September 2024) and WamNow Technologies Limited (November 2025).
Payment Service Providers, Bill Payment Service Providers, and Non-Interbank Payment System Operators must register with CBTT under its powers in section 36(cc) of the Central Bank Act. Separate registration as a PSP is required even for licensed EMIs that conduct payment service activities.
A comprehensive standalone PSS Bill and accompanying regulations were published for public consultation by CBTT from March 2026, with comment deadline 20 June 2026. The Bill proposes a modern risk-based framework covering licensing, interoperability, safeguarding of user funds, consumer dispute resolution, and a statutory regulatory sandbox.
In September 2024, the Ministry of Public Administration signed an agreement with NPCI International Payments Limited to build a UPI-modelled instant payment platform supporting P2P, P2M, and G2P transactions. CBTT's strategic roadmap targets operationalisation of UPI-based instant payments between 2026 and 2030.
CBTT operates a Joint Regulatory Innovation Hub (with the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission and Financial Intelligence Unit) and a regulatory sandbox allowing fintech companies to test products before full authorisation. The PSS Bill formalises the sandbox in statute.
No standalone open banking framework or dedicated BNPL rules currently exist in Trinidad and Tobago. Open banking interoperability requirements are anticipated within the draft PSS Bill; BNPL products are not yet specifically regulated and would fall under general consumer credit law if applicable.
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