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CBCS wins Currency Manager Award 2026

Recognized by Central Banking for Caribbean Guilder Success

The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) has been named Currency Manager of the Year 2026 by Central Banking, recognizing the successful introduction of the Caribbean guilder in 2025. The award highlights not only the technical execution of the new currency, but also CBCS’s ability to build trust and public support across two countries with distinct identities.

The Central Banking Awards are among the most respected distinctions in the global central banking community, based on in-depth analysis and benchmarking by the publication’s editorial team and advisory board. According to the judges, CBCS demonstrated how a small central bank can successfully deliver a complex currency reform through careful planning, strong collaboration and effective use of external expertise.

Crane Currency played a key role as a trusted partner in the development and implementation of the new banknote series. Crane supported CBCS throughout the transformation process – from concept and design development to the integration of advanced security features, production, and the coordinated public rollout of the new currency.

 

Executive Directors Mr. José Jardim and Mrs. Leila Matroos-Lasten at the Caribbean guilder launch event in 2024.
Mr. Richard Doornbosch, CBCS President

“The introduction of the Caribbean guilder has been one of the CBCS’s most significant undertakings in recent history,” said Richard Doornbosch, CBCS President. “Being selected as the recipient of Central Banking’s Currency Manager Award is a profound honor for our institution. This award shows what is possible for a small central bank when a professional and enthusiastic team is working relentlessly in close cooperation with trusted partners and advisors.”

The Caribbean guilder project was shaped by a unique set of challenges. CBCS oversees a monetary union between Curaçao and Sint Maarten – two countries separated geographically, with different languages, cultures, and economic conditions. Introducing a shared currency required not only technical precision, but also a carefully designed strategy to foster a sense of unity and ownership among the public.

 

We came up with the underwater world theme – marine animals swim freely, they don’t see borders – that’s something that unites.

Nancy van der Wal

Head Corporate Communications, CBCS

A key element of the success was a comprehensive, multilingual communication effort to inform and educate the public about the new currency and its benefits. By addressing concerns early and consistently, CBCS was able to shift public sentiment from skepticism to broad acceptance.

“The first part of the project was really about informing and educating the public on why we had to introduce the new currency”, said Nancy van der Wal, CBCS communications lead.

The CBCS adopted an inclusive visual identity for the banknotes, which leveraged next-generation security features customized to the underwater world theme. The use of bold security features including MOTION SURFACE® micro-optic stripes on all denominations strengthened a theme popular with the public and promoted confidence in the new currency while substantially increasing the banknote’s counterfeit resilience.

 

The MOTION SURFACE® stripe was designed to follow the underwater theme of the new Caribbean guilder.

 

Working closely with Crane Currency, the CBCS was recognized with the successful introduction of an entirely new currency series that combines advanced security with a distinctive and meaningful design, supporting usability and strengthening public trust with an extensive public engagement campaign.

This was not the first award for CBCS. In 2025 at the HSP Conference in Brazil, the new banknotes of Curaçao and Sint Maarten were voted the region’s best.