NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Residents of Grand Bahama turned out in force for a forum on digital finance – including demonstrations of how they can make payments and use online banking.
The latest in a series of events in the Family Islands by the Live Digital campaign was held in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, with a town hall event at Christ the King Church. An audience of about 200 people attended the event, hosted in collaboration with the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce.
Organisers hailed the success of the event, especially the large turnout – with Andros next in line as the campaign tours the islands of The Bahamas.
In a keynote address, the Governor of the Central Bank, John Rolle, emphasised the importance of innovation, financial inclusion and the role of digital transformation in strengthening local economies, in a speech on “The Economic Resilience of the Grand Bahama Community and the Wider Bahamas.”
The event, The Future of Pay Community Forum, offered islanders solutions to the ongoing problems of living and working without convenient access to brick-and-mortar banking facilities.
Dillon Knowles, president of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, reiterated the Chamber’s commitment to supporting initiatives that drive sustainable economic growth across the island in his closing remarks.
The event featured key financial stakeholders, including members of the Clearing Banks Association, digital wallet providers, and credit unions. Participating institutions included Bank of The Bahamas, Scotiabank, First Caribbean, the Teachers and Salaried Cooperative Credit Union, Fidelity Bank, Commonwealth Bank, and Kanoo.
Each organisation showcased digital payment solutions through presentations and live demonstrations, highlighting how these innovations can benefit the people of Grand Bahama. Attendees eagerly visited the various booths, where they were able to learn more about each service — and even sign up for new digital products on the spot.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, allowing participants to speak one-on-one with representatives from each financial institution, as well as with Governor Rolle.
The evening was hosted by Felix Bowe, chair of the Economic Development Committee of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber emphasised economic resiliency, while Live Digital promoted innovation, financial literacy, and the benefits of moving beyond cash-only transactions.
Mr Bowe said that the event had been of great benefit, and said: “Persons are still talking about it and the importance of being more digitally driven and digitally savvy.”
He added: “The event drew a wide range of residents from Grand Bahama, from East End to West End, not just Chamber members and we are just grateful that we are continuing to provide the best opportunities possible to promote financial literacy in the entire community.”
Mr Bowe said: “The digital landscape and technology is the way forward – it’s the way of the world and this is an important landmark that we have turned now with this partnership with Central Bank and the governor.”
He said he hoped the Chamber would provide further initiatives with other regulatory bodies and institutions.
The series of Family Island town halls has been spearheaded by the Central Bank of The Bahamas and the Clearing Banks Association as part of the Live Digital educational campaign designed to build awareness of practical solutions to what, for many, can be a frustrating experience with finding ways to pay or get paid.
