WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao Banking Association (CBA) has dismissed advice from the Netherlands encouraging people to keep cash at home as unnecessary for Curaçao. Vice Chairman Lionel ‘Chicu’ Capriles II stated that such a recommendation is unwarranted for the island, where cash transactions remain common and geopolitical threats seem distant.
In the Netherlands, the Dutch Banking Association (NVB) urged residents to maintain a cash reserve as a precaution against potential cyberattacks that could disrupt digital payment systems. However, Capriles argued that Curaçao's geographical location and its status as a non-NATO member make it a less likely target. He also highlighted that most Curaçao residents already rely heavily on cash payments, rendering the advice to stockpile cash largely redundant.
The CBA further noted that there is little public support on the island for what Capriles described as "doom-and-gloom thinking." In the Netherlands, the NVB's recommendation received widespread attention, partly due to earlier warnings from the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) and Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans. They emphasized preparedness amid rising geopolitical tensions and the risk of cyberattacks.
“For now, we should keep this advice in perspective,” Capriles remarked. “The situation in Europe is entirely different from ours.”
Curaçao will continue to focus on maintaining its current payment systems, with no immediate plans to adopt similar precautions.