NCB (National Commercial Bank)
NCB Diaspora Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Resident, returning resident, diaspora (US/UK/CA)
- LTV
- Up to 90% LTV
- Currency
- JMD or USD
- Notable
- Online pre-qualification, in-market diaspora reps
Mortgages
Best banks for Caribbean property mortgages
A working list of the banks that actually lend to Caribbean residents, the returning diaspora, and non-national buyers — grouped by country, with eligibility, currency, and typical LTV.
Jamaica
Strong diaspora mortgage market. Most major banks offer USD- and JMD-denominated loans with formal returning-resident packages.
JN Bank
JN Diaspora Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Jamaican diaspora worldwide; residents
- LTV
- Up to 95% LTV for first-time buyers
- Currency
- JMD, USD, GBP, CAD
- Notable
- Dedicated diaspora branches in UK, US, Canada
Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS)
VM Overseas Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Diaspora & residents
- LTV
- Up to 95% LTV
- Currency
- JMD, USD, GBP, CAD
- Notable
- Long history with the Jamaican diaspora
Scotiabank Jamaica
Scotia Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Residents; diaspora case-by-case
- LTV
- Up to 90% LTV
- Currency
- JMD or USD
- Notable
- Regional footprint, fast pre-approval
Sagicor Bank Jamaica
Sagicor Home Loan
- Who it's for
- Residents, returning residents
- LTV
- Up to 100% LTV with mortgage indemnity
- Currency
- JMD or USD
- Notable
- Bundled insurance through Sagicor Life
JMMB Bank Jamaica
JMMB Home Loan
- Who it's for
- Residents & diaspora
- LTV
- Up to 95% LTV
- Currency
- JMD or USD
- Notable
- Refinancing & equity-release options
Trinidad & Tobago
Mix of commercial banks plus a state-backed mortgage finance company.
TTMF (Trinidad & Tobago Mortgage Finance)
2% / 5% Residential Mortgages
- Who it's for
- Residents; income-tested
- LTV
- Up to 100% LTV on qualifying homes
- Currency
- TTD
- Notable
- Government-supported low-rate tiers
Republic Bank T&T
Republic Home Loan
- Who it's for
- Residents; non-nationals with local income
- LTV
- Up to 95% LTV
- Currency
- TTD or USD
- Notable
- Regional Caribbean footprint
RBC Royal Bank T&T
RBC Royal Home Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Residents
- LTV
- Up to 95% LTV
- Currency
- TTD
- Notable
- Fixed & variable rate options
First Citizens Bank
First Citizens Home Loan
- Who it's for
- Residents
- LTV
- Up to 100% LTV
- Currency
- TTD
- Notable
- Online application & calculator
Barbados
Foreign nationals can buy freely; banks lend in BBD and USD.
Republic Bank Barbados
Republic Home Loan
- Who it's for
- Residents & non-nationals with proof of income
- LTV
- Up to 95% LTV
- Currency
- BBD or USD
- Notable
- Regional service
CIBC Caribbean (Barbados)
CIBC Home Power Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Residents; non-residents on review
- LTV
- Up to 90% LTV
- Currency
- BBD or USD
- Notable
- Cross-border lending experience
RBC Royal Bank Barbados
RBC Royal Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Residents & qualifying non-residents
- LTV
- Up to 90% LTV
- Currency
- BBD or USD
- Notable
- Strong North American diaspora support
Scotiabank Barbados
Scotia Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Residents
- LTV
- Up to 95% LTV
- Currency
- BBD or USD
- Notable
- StartRight programme for newcomers
Bahamas
No income tax; banks lend in BSD and USD to residents and qualifying non-residents.
Commonwealth Bank
Residential Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Bahamian residents
- LTV
- Up to 95% LTV
- Currency
- BSD
- Notable
- Local lender, fast approvals
RBC Bahamas
RBC Royal Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Residents & qualifying non-residents
- LTV
- Up to 90% LTV
- Currency
- BSD or USD
- Notable
- International transfer support
Scotiabank Bahamas
Scotia Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Residents; diaspora case-by-case
- LTV
- Up to 95% LTV
- Currency
- BSD or USD
- Notable
- Wider Caribbean network
Fidelity Bank Bahamas
Fidelity Home Loan
- Who it's for
- Residents
- LTV
- Up to 95% LTV
- Currency
- BSD
- Notable
- Strong local underwriting
Cayman Islands
Foreign buyers welcome; many loans denominated in USD.
Butterfield (Cayman)
Butterfield Residential Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Residents & qualifying non-residents
- LTV
- Up to 85% LTV
- Currency
- KYD or USD
- Notable
- Premier banking ties
Cayman National Bank
CNB Home Loan
- Who it's for
- Residents
- LTV
- Up to 90% LTV
- Currency
- KYD or USD
- Notable
- Local-owned bank
RBC Cayman
RBC Royal Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Residents; non-residents reviewed
- LTV
- Up to 85% LTV
- Currency
- KYD or USD
- Notable
- International client services
Scotiabank Cayman
Scotia Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Residents
- LTV
- Up to 90% LTV
- Currency
- KYD or USD
- Notable
- Regional footprint
Eastern Caribbean (OECS)
Covers St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts, Grenada, St. Vincent, Dominica. Regional banks dominate.
CIBC Caribbean (Regional)
Home Power Mortgage
- Who it's for
- Residents across OECS; non-residents reviewed
- LTV
- Up to 90% LTV
- Currency
- XCD or USD
- Notable
- One bank across multiple islands
Republic Bank (Eastern Caribbean)
Republic Home Loan
- Who it's for
- Residents
- LTV
- Up to 95% LTV
- Currency
- XCD or USD
- Notable
- Strong Eastern Caribbean network
Bank of Saint Lucia
BOSL Home Loan
- Who it's for
- Residents & Saint Lucian diaspora
- LTV
- Up to 100% LTV qualifying
- Currency
- XCD or USD
- Notable
- Local mortgage expertise
Dominican Republic
Active non-resident mortgage market; popular with North American & European buyers.
Scotiabank DR
Hipoteca Scotiabank
- Who it's for
- Residents & non-residents (program-based)
- LTV
- Up to 70% LTV for non-residents
- Currency
- DOP or USD
- Notable
- Cross-border familiar with US/CA income
Banco Popular Dominicano
Préstamo Hipotecario
- Who it's for
- Residents; diaspora through Popular branches abroad
- LTV
- Up to 80% LTV
- Currency
- DOP or USD
- Notable
- Largest private bank in DR
BHD
Hipoteca No Residentes
- Who it's for
- Non-residents & diaspora
- LTV
- Up to 60–70% LTV
- Currency
- USD
- Notable
- Dedicated non-resident program
What to prepare
Documents and budget lines most Caribbean lenders ask for.
- Government-issued ID + TRN/SSN equivalent
- Proof of income (2 years pay slips, tax returns, or 1099/T4/P60)
- Credit report from your home country
- Source-of-funds for the down payment (bank statements)
- Property valuation by an approved appraiser
- Caribbean attorney to handle the conveyance
- Title insurance / title search
- Budget for stamp duty, transfer tax & legal fees (5–10% of price)
FAQ
Can the diaspora get a USD mortgage in Jamaica?
Yes. NCB, JN Bank, VMBS, and JMMB all offer USD-denominated diaspora mortgages with North American, UK, and Canadian income accepted.
Do non-nationals qualify?
In Barbados, Bahamas, Cayman, and the DR, non-nationals can typically get up to 60–80% LTV with proof of foreign income and a larger down payment.
What's a typical LTV?
Residents: 90–100% LTV. Returning diaspora: 85–95%. Non-resident foreign buyers: 60–80% — varies by bank and property type.
What rates can I expect?
Rates vary by currency and market. Jamaican USD mortgages have recently ranged roughly 6–9%, JMD products higher; Cayman and Bahamas USD products are typically tied to US benchmarks. Always confirm directly with the bank.
Can I refinance from abroad?
Yes, diaspora-focused banks (NCB, JN, VM, Republic) offer refinancing and equity release products for property already owned in the region.
Plan your move
Read the Caribbean lifestyle guide, the Top 10 weekly news, and the investment columns.
Editorial only — not financial advice. Rates, LTV bands, and eligibility change. Always confirm directly with the bank before applying.