Suriname · Latin America
Banking in Paramaribo: Regulator, SRD Accounts & Transfers
Banking in Paramaribo is governed by Suriname-wide rules: Centrale Bank van Suriname (CBvS) oversees regulated providers, the Surinamese dollar (SRD) is the local currency, and domestic payments use a specific account format and rail. Here is what that means in practice, each point tied to its official source.
The regulator to check
In Latin America, regulation is national — the body to check for a Paramaribo provider is Suriname's.
Centrale Bank van Suriname (CBvS)
Banks and other credit institutions must hold a licence from the Centrale Bank van Suriname under the Banking Supervision Act, and money-transfer and exchange businesses need separate CBvS approval. Verify the licence on the CBvS's registers before you keep a balance with it.
Visit the regulator →Currency & local account details
To receive or send money locally, Paramaribo accounts use Suriname's standard details.
- Currency:
- Surinamese dollar (SRD)
- Local account format
- Suriname has no IBAN registry entry: account numbers are bank-specific, and cross-border transfers are keyed to the receiving bank's SWIFT/BIC plus the beneficiary account number.
How domestic transfers move
Moving money within Suriname runs on a defined payment system.
Interbank payments settle through the CBvS's payment arrangements and the banks' own correspondent networks, with international transfers routed over SWIFT, largely in USD or euros through US and Dutch correspondents; card acceptance is limited outside Paramaribo, and US-dollar cash is widely held alongside SRD because of the currency's history of sharp depreciation.
Before you open an account
- Confirm the provider is authorised by Centrale Bank van Suriname (CBvS) before depositing funds.
- Transact in Surinamese dollar (SRD) and check the provider's rate and fees for any conversion.
- Use Suriname's domestic account format exactly as issued when sending or receiving locally.
- Check the provider's cut-off times and limits on the local payment rail before relying on instant settlement.
Sources
Every fact on this page traces to an official or authoritative source: