Central Bank of Barbados Gives Update on Salary Payments

The Central Bank of Barbados is providing a further update on delayed salary payments affecting some workers following the transition to BiMPay.

Of approximately 27,366 salary payments for central government, the Barbados Revenue Authority, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 27, 206 have now been paid. In the statutory corporations, the position is broadly similar, with most workers having now received their salaries.

The Central Bank sincerely apologises to those workers who have not yet received their salaries. We recognise the financial and personal distress this has caused, and resolving the remaining outstanding payments remains a priority.

Since the issue arose, we are in constant communication with the commercial banks to ensure that all outstanding payments to private sector employees are expedited. We have also been working with Government agencies, employers, and financial institutions to identify and correct account information that did not meet the required format for processing through BiMPay. Where necessary, valid account information is being obtained so that outstanding payments can be processed without further delay.

The issue relates mainly to the formatting and validation of account information in payroll files. Under the previous batch-based arrangements, some account information issues could be corrected manually during processing. Under BiMPay, payment files must contain valid account information before upload because payments are processed instantly. This is a significant operational change, and all parties are working to complete the remaining corrections.

BiMPay remains operational and continues to process interbank transactions while the remaining payroll account corrections are being completed.

Government pensions are being processed today, June 26, 2026. The Central Bank is working with the relevant Government agencies and financial institutions to support timely processing and will provide a further update if necessary.

Employees who have not yet received payment are asked to continue to liaise with their HR or Finance departments. Those departments remain in direct contact with the relevant financial institutions and are best placed to confirm and correct individual payroll account details.

The Central Bank has directed financial institutions that affected individuals are not to be charged for correcting account formatting issues. Financial institutions are also not to apply penalty fees where a customer is unable to make a loan payment because they did not receive their salary on time. Where such fees are applied automatically, they are to be reversed.

The Central Bank will continue to update the public as further information becomes available.

Again, we apologise to everyone who has not yet received their pay. We are treating this matter with urgency and will continue working with all parties until the outstanding payments are resolved.