Statia Government welcomes the confirmation that ING Bank will open its branch on Statia on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, marking an important milestone in the island’s longstanding efforts to improve access to banking services for residents and businesses.
Improving banking access has been a priority for successive Island and Executive Councils. In 2021, the Island Council unanimously called for better banking services. These efforts continued, including a meeting between the Executive Council and ING Netherlands Chief Executive Officer Peter Jacobs in Amsterdam in June 2025. Regular meetings and discussions have continued throughout 2026 as preparations for the bank’s opening progressed.
Island Commissioners Rechelline Leerdam, responsible for Economic Affairs, and Reuben Merkman, responsible for Finance, welcomed the announcement in a joint statement.
“Reaching this milestone has not been easy. For a little over a decade, efforts have been made to attract banks to provide services to our islands, without success until now. This has been a collective effort, with the call for improved banking services consistently raised by both the Island Council and Executive Council over the years.
“We sincerely thank ING for taking on this challenge, for their transparency throughout the process, and for their determination to see it through despite the many challenges and bottlenecks encountered along the way. We recognise that this has not been an easy journey for ING either, and we appreciate their commitment to making banking services more accessible to the people of Statia,” the Commissioners stated.
The new branch will initially offer personal and business bank accounts, debit cards and digital banking services. Residents and businesses will also be able to receive assistance at the local branch.
Cash withdrawals will be available through automated teller machines (ATMs) installed by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).
ING will also open a branch on Saba on Thursday, 26 November 2026.
The opening marks a significant step towards ensuring that residents and businesses on Statia have access to the same standard of banking services as those in the European Netherlands.
