Money and Currency in the Bahamas

The Bahamas' unit of currency is the Bahamian dollar ($B) which is based on the U.S. dollar. One Bahamian dollar equals 100 Bahamian cents (pennies).

As the Bahamian and U.S. dollars are equivalent (1 $B = 1 $US), residents or visitors may spend either Bahamian or U.S. dollars in the Bahamas, though outside the Bahamas, Bahamian money is not to valuable (trading at times at nearly half its face value), except as a popular collector item, so make sure to get rid of all your Bahamian dollars before you leave.

Security features on Bahamas notes include:

• Watermark of the Spanish Galleon: All Banknotes
• Security threads: All Banknotes
• See-through feature of the Sand dollar: All Banknotes
• Hologram: Bahamas $100 banknotes only
• Series: All banknotes (except B$3 banknotes)
• Foil: $10, $20, $50 100%
• cotton banknote paper: All banknotes
• Security fibres fluorescent green or yellow: All banknotes
• Latent image: All banknotes (except B$3 banknotes)

Bahamian dollar banknotes are printed by De la Rue, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, while coins are minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, which is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Editorial Commentary on Fiat Money and Exchange Controls

Fiat money supply: Unfortunately, like the United States, the Central Bank of the Bahamas is not on a gold standard (gold cannot be counterfeited, and as such, a system based on the gold standard  is not susceptible to inflationary pressures of debt-ridden governments in search of loot), and free-market  banking, or "free" banking, is illegal (as it is in every other country). Like the United States the only alternative is the Central Bank of the Bahamas (which is the Bahamian equivalent of the United States Federal Reserve and Central Banking system).

Like the U.S., with a Central Banking system the Bahamian government can produce fiat dollars and inflate the money supply (inflation is a hidden form of taxation). However, if the Bahamian government wishes to keep the Bahamian dollar on par with the U.S. dollar, it is by necessity restricted in its ability to create dollars "out of thin air" to matching that of the United States governments legalized "counterfeiting operation". The Bahamian government must do this less Bahamian money fall into disrepute and become worth less then the paper it is printed on.

Bahamas Exchange Controls: Like communist countries, like Cuba, the Bahamas does have strict exchange controls on its citizens, (and less so on foreigners as it is difficult to keep a leash on people who can easily leave the country).

According to the Bahamas Central Bank:

The Bahamian Government's decision to continue to maintain Exchange Controls after the dissolution of the Sterling Area reflected a desire to ensure disciplined use of the country's foreign currency reserves and to assist in its Balance of Payments. Such concerns were understandable given the structural character of the economy--a small, open, developing, export-oriented economy--whose export sector is dominated by tourism; the Government's goal of economic diversification, and the funding requirements of such diversification. Tourism provided then, as it does now, most of the foreign exchange needed to play an important role in funding the import requirements of the economy and, in the absence of a strong agricultural and industrial base, there is high reliance on imports for consumption and capital development.

In this planning process, Exchange Control is used as a tool of economic and monetary policy, to:

• Preserve the country's external reserves and safeguard the balance of payment
• Maintain the fixed rate parity of the Bahamian Dollar with the United States Dollar
• Control expansion in the money supply, as well as speculation in the Bahamian currency by non-residents
• Provide a statistical means of monitoring the inflows and outflows of foreign currency to/from The Bahamas

In the overall macro policy mix of tools available to the Bank in the management of the economy, therefore, the Exchange Control arrangements enable a clear differentiation between the domestic and offshore sectors.

If it sounds like fluff, it is because it is. Essentially what it says is that private Bahamians do the work in getting foreign currency, and then must fork over that money to the government who decides what is done with it. This is socialism/communism. The truth is that a government does not, cannot, and should not "plan" economic activities--those activities should be left to entrepreneurs and capitalists as guided by the market. All that is required of government is to protect individual rights, including property rights, which is precisely what the exchange control rules violate. Such laws should be abolished. If the government wants U.S. dollars for its activities it should purchase them on the free-market by providing value for them.

Discover the Islands of the Bahamas

According to the Bahamas Tourism office the Islands of the Bahamas is unique with their individual character and charm--and there is some truth to this.

Visit the main islands like beautiful Grand Bahama Island (Freeport/Lucaya) and bustling New Providence (Nassau and Paradise Island). 

Or, if you really want to get away from the crowds, visit one of the many out islands like Abaco, Andros, Acklins and Crooked Island, Biminis, Berry Islands, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Exumas, Inaguas, Mayaguana, and San Salvador.

Bahamas Facts & Figures

Whether you need information on alcohol, camping, and our wonderful climate, or want to know about our currency, and education system, our rich history and immigration policies. The Bahamas Guide Facts and Figures section should have what you are looking for.