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Open a bank account in Jamaica
Which bank to use in Jamaica, the account to ask for, and exactly what to bring to the branch.
Before anything elseYou need a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) to open any bank account in Jamaica, at any bank. There is no way around it and no account you can open without one, so if you do not have a TRN yet, apply for that before anything else.
Where to go in Jamaica
Bank: NCB (National Commercial Bank Jamaica)
Account to ask for: On-The-Go Standard
The other option
Scotiabank Jamaica
Ask for the Savings or Day-To-Day account, J$5,000 to open.
Scotiabank Jamaica does not offer the Electronic Access Account it runs elsewhere in the region, so its everyday Savings and Day-To-Day accounts are the starting point. Both come with Scotia OnLine and mobile banking. The TRN requirement applies here too, and the rest of its document list differs from NCB's, so check with the branch.
Scotiabank Jamaica details →CurrencyJMD
Minimum to openJ$2,000
What to bring
What NCB asks for when you open a On-The-Go Standard in Jamaica:
- One valid photo ID: driver's licence (both sides), National ID (Elector Registration Identification Card), passport, diplomatic ID, or the National Council for Senior Citizens card. Without a driver's licence, your TRN card works
- Your Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN)
- Proof of address, no more than six months old: a utility bill, a current credit card or bank statement, a postmarked envelope addressed to you, or your National ID
- Proof of income, no more than six months old: a letter from your employer, a payslip, or proof of salary paid into an account for the last three months. If you are self-employed, an accountant's letter stating your salary range and title, your tax return, or bank statements
- Two referees, each with a name, telephone number and occupation. A referee must have been an NCB customer for at least a year and cannot be an immediate family member
Good to know
- No monthly service charge and no minimum balance fee. You get four free NCB ATM withdrawals a month and free online bill payment.
- The account is non-interest bearing, so it is for day-to-day money rather than savings. Pair it with a savings account if you want interest.
- You can open it online through NCB's remote onboarding, without visiting a branch, if you have a driver's licence, National ID or passport.
This is guidance, and banks change their fees and document lists. Confirm the current requirements with NCB (National Commercial Bank Jamaica) before you travel to a branch.
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