SAINT LUCIA

(XCD) Currency News >>

CURRENCY:

East Caribbean Dollar - XCD, Symbol EC$

DENOMINATIONS:

NOTE: EC$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5.

COIN: EC$1, and 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

NOTE: The US dollar is also accepted legal tender in St Lucia, and the XCD is tied to the US dollar at a fixed rate.

US DOLLAR ACCEPTED?

Yes, widely (see above).

CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS AND ATMS:

Major credit cards are widely accepted. There are ATM machines widely available.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE:

This is best conducted at banks and authorised bureaux de change.

TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES:

Best in US dollars.

BANKING HOURS:

Generally Mon-Thurs 0830-1500, Fri 0830-1700. Some banks open Saturday mornings.

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS:

N/A

COUNTRY OVERVIEW:

Saint Lucia is located in the East Caribbean Sea and is an island nation. It has been independent from France and then Britain since 1979 and is now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The capital is Castries and the official languages are English, French and Creole.

POPULATION:

Around 160,000

ECONOMY:

Saint Lucia has suffered under a change in EU imports - formerly they were the main exporter of bananas but now competition has increased with Latin American banana producers. This has meant Saint Lucia has had to diversify the economy and has increased its industries in offshore banking and tourism.