About Bank: About Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a twin island state located in the Eastern Caribbean. The major island Antigua is 108 square miles in size with a resident population of approximately 65,000. The capital is St.John's. Barbuda has a population of 1500 with its principal community in Codrington. Antigua is a renowned and developed resort, visited by approximately half a million tourists annually.

Antigua was discovered  by Christopher Columbus in 1493. The island was first settled by the British in 1632. Apart from a brief period in 1666 when it was captured by the French, Antigua remained British until 1981. In November 1981 Antigua gained its independence and became the 157th member of the United Nations. It is now also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Antigua has a democratic Government system, which is based on the British Parliamentary system. English is the official language.

Antigua possesses the most thriving tourist industry in the Eastern Caribbean and with its modern, multinational community, enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean.

Its financial offshore industry and commercial activities have grown tremendously since its Independence and there has been the collateral development of a unique infrastructure to support its commercial and financial activities.

In Antigua, business communications are excellent. Worldwide direct dialing systems of telephone, telex and facsimile are supported by daily air links to the major cities of the USA, Canada and Europe and to the world's major capital markets. Express courier services are available via Federal Express and DHL. Travel to and from the island is facilitated by major airlines - Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways, BWIA, and Continental. A newly developed deep water harbor permits the docking of large cruise ships which frequent the island, and services from at least eleven shipping lines which serve North America, Caribbean, and European cities.

There is an abundance of professional services available in such disciplines as accounting, legal representation, trust and management services. The major accounting firms are PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Pannell Kerr Forster and KPMG.

The currency in Antigua is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar which is fixed to the United States at the rate of US$1.00 to E.C.$2.70.

The combination of excellent service, modern corporate and fiscal legislation provides an extremely attractive environment for the establishment of offshore corporations. Its international banks, local banks, law firms, tax advisors, accounting firms and trust companies service very well the needs of the offshore financial industry.

• The Offical Site of Antigua And Barbuda High Commission In London
• The Official Homepage of the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism
• Antigua Nice .COM
• Antigua Sailing Week