©️photo : BRH
Port-au-Prince, May 1, 2026.- Meeting on April 28 and 29, 2026 at the Royal Oasis Hotel in Petion-Ville, the Bank of the Republic of Haiti presented a contrasting picture of the national economy at the International Summit of Finance. Between contraction of GDP, high inflation and global slowdown, the country remains under pressure. However, the banking system has a remarkable resilience, supported by high liquidity, strong capitalization and significant growth in digital financial services.
On 28 and 29 April, the Bank of the Republic of Haiti participated in the International Finance Summit around the financing of local development by municipalities, including through municipal bonds. On the second day devoted to the banking system, the representatives of the central bank drew up a picture of the worrying economic situation.
Analyses show a slowdown in global growth from 3.4 per cent to 3.1 per cent. In this context, Haiti continues to face strong economic constraints, with a contraction of -2.7 per cent in 2025 and a projection of -1.7 per cent in 2026. Inflation, although declining, remained high from 32.2% to 20.6% between November 2025 and March 2026.
Despite these difficulties, some indicators show signs of adjustment. The exchange rate remains relatively stable, ranging from 130 to 132 gourdes to a US dollar. International reserves cover between 7 and 8 months of imports, while diaspora transfers increased significantly by 23.8 per cent, reaching $2.6 billion in six months.
In this fragile context, the Haitian banking system is strong. It remains profitable with a return of 1.27%, maintains high liquidity around 54 % and has a regulatory capital ratio of 23.02 %, well above the minimum required of 12 %. These performances demonstrate its ability to withstand economic shocks.
Moreover, financial inclusion is progressing. While the number of bank accounts remains below 3 million, digital financial services reach about 8 million subscribers, facilitating access to financial services for a large part of the population, particularly in less-served areas.
The central bank is also continuing to modernise the financial system through infrastructure such as the Central Securities Depository and the Automated Transfer System, aimed at enhancing the security, transparency and efficiency of transactions.
Finally, discussions focused on the prospects for the development of municipal bonds, considered as a potential lever for financing local development. However, their implementation will require further adjustments and a strengthened regulatory framework.
W.A.
