Bank of the Republic of Haiti
The Bank of the Republic of Haiti is Haiti's central bank, responsible for monetary and financial-system functions and for supporting the modernization of the country's payments infrastructure.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Bank of the Republic of Haiti, known in French as the Banque de la République d'Haïti and commonly abbreviated BRH, is the central bank of Haiti. It is a public monetary institution headquartered in Port-au-Prince and serves as a core institution in the country's financial and payments system. Its responsibilities include central-bank functions associated with currency and monetary management, oversight of aspects of the financial sector, and support for the stability and development of Haiti's banking infrastructure. The institution was created in 1979 when the National Bank of the Republic of Haiti was divided into two entities. One successor became the Banque nationale de crédit, a commercial bank, while the other became the Bank of the Republic of Haiti. The BRH therefore represents the modern institutional successor to Haiti's earlier bank-of-issue arrangements, although the country's banking history extends considerably further back. The origins of Haiti's formal banking system can be traced to nineteenth-century proposals for a national bank. A proposed institution discussed in 1825 was never established. A law enacted in 1880 permitted a privileged bank to receive a concession for issuing currency, leading to the establishment of the National Bank of Haiti in Paris in 1881 by Crédit Industriel et Commercial. In 1910, that issuance concession was transferred to the National Bank of the Republic of Haiti, which was formed with French, German, and American participation. During the United States occupation of Haiti, National City Bank of New York took control of the institution and became its full owner in 1919. The Haitian government acquired the bank in 1935. As Haiti's central monetary authority, the BRH is associated with the Haitian gourde and with the institutional framework governing monetary and financial activity. It also has a development-oriented role. The bank has promoted financial inclusion and has participated in international policy networks, including the Alliance for Financial Inclusion. In 2013, it announced a Maya Declaration commitment focused on continuing payment-system modernization and submitting legislation concerning the regulation and supervision of microfinance institutions to the relevant authorities. These efforts reflect the bank's role not only as a monetary authority but also as an institution seeking to broaden access to formal financial services and improve the infrastructure through which payments are made. The bank operates in a difficult environment marked by economic fragility, institutional constraints, and recurring political and security crises. Its facilities and personnel have consequently been exposed to risks beyond ordinary banking operations. In 2024, amid widespread unrest in Haiti, the BRH's central facility in Port-au-Prince was stormed. Security guards repelled the attack, and three people were killed in the incident, according to the referenced account. The event underscored the vulnerability of critical financial infrastructure during periods of severe instability. The BRH has been led by a succession of governors and, during short transitional periods, senior officials serving as administrators or directors. Ronald Gabriel became governor in October 2023, succeeding Jean Baden Dubois. The bank remains active as Haiti's central bank, although detailed current information about its programs, governance, and official digital presence is not established in the supplied reference material.
History
Haiti's banking history predates the modern central bank by more than a century. In 1825, correspondence discussed a proposal by foreign commercial interests to establish a bank in Haiti, but the plan was not approved. A law passed in 1880 later authorized the granting of a currency-issuance concession to a privileged bank. The National Bank of Haiti was established in Paris in early 1881 by the French financial institution Crédit Industriel et Commercial. In October 1910, the currency-issuance concession moved to the National Bank of the Republic of Haiti, or BNRH. The new institution was formed with French, German, and American interests. During the United States occupation of Haiti, National City Bank of New York assumed control of the BNRH and obtained full ownership in 1919. The Haitian government bought the institution in 1935, bringing the principal bank-of-issue institution under state ownership. The modern Bank of the Republic of Haiti was created in 1979 through the division of the BNRH. The restructuring produced two separate institutions: the Banque nationale de crédit, a commercial bank, and the BRH, which became Haiti's central bank. The reorganization separated commercial banking from the country's monetary authority and established the institutional structure under which Haiti's central banking functions have since been carried out. The BRH is associated with Haiti's currency and monetary framework and with the supervision and development of the financial system. Its work extends beyond conventional monetary administration to include payment infrastructure, financial-sector regulation, and financial inclusion. The bank became a member institution of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion and announced a Maya Declaration commitment in 2013. The commitment emphasized further modernization of Haiti's payment system and the submission of legislation aimed at regulating and supervising microfinance institutions. The institution has operated through repeated periods of political and economic instability. Its governors have included Antonio André, Gérard Martineau, Marcel Léger, Allan Nolté, Jean Claude Sanon, Onill Millet, Ernest Ricot, Jacques Vilgrain, Serge Pothel, Charles Beaulieu, Roger Pérodin, Bonivert Claude, Leslie Delatour, Fritz Jean, Venel Joseph, Raymond Magloire, Charles Castel, Jean Baden Dubois, and Ronald Gabriel. Hubert Cameau served briefly as administrator and Joseph Lagroue as director during transitional periods in 1988. Gabriel became governor in October 2023. The security challenges surrounding Haiti's political crisis have also affected the central bank directly. During the country's 2024 unrest, the BRH's central facility in Port-au-Prince was stormed. The attack was repelled by bank security guards, with three deaths reported. The incident illustrated the importance and vulnerability of the bank's physical infrastructure as it performs essential public financial functions. The BRH remains active as Haiti's central bank.
- 2024
Central bank facility attacked during unrest
[1]The BRH facility in Port-au-Prince was stormed during Haiti's riots; security guards drove back the attack and three people were killed.
- 2023
Ronald Gabriel becomes governor
[1]Ronald Gabriel became governor in October, succeeding Jean Baden Dubois.
- 2013
Maya Declaration commitment announced
[1]The BRH announced commitments concerning payment-system modernization and a legislative framework for microfinance regulation and supervision.
- 1979
Bank of the Republic of Haiti created
[1]The National Bank of the Republic of Haiti was divided into the Banque nationale de crédit and the Bank of the Republic of Haiti.
- 1935
Haitian government acquires predecessor bank
[1]The Haitian government acquired the National Bank of the Republic of Haiti from National City Bank.
- 1919
National City Bank obtains full ownership
[1]National City Bank of New York, which had taken control during the United States occupation, acquired full ownership of the predecessor institution.
- 1910
National Bank of the Republic of Haiti formed
[1]The currency-issuance concession was transferred to the newly formed National Bank of the Republic of Haiti, the principal predecessor of the modern BRH.
- 1881
National Bank of Haiti established
[1]The National Bank of Haiti was established in Paris by Crédit Industriel et Commercial.
- 1880
Currency-issuance concession authorized
[1]Haitian law authorized the granting of a privileged-bank concession for currency issuance, creating the legal basis for a formal bank-of-issue institution.
Products and positioning
Haiti's public monetary authority and central financial institution, combining conventional central-bank responsibilities with efforts to strengthen payments, financial inclusion, and financial-sector supervision.
Central-bank function · 1979
Currency and monetary administration
The BRH performs core central-bank responsibilities connected with Haiti's monetary system and the Haitian gourde. As the country's monetary authority, it forms part of the institutional framework for currency administration and monetary management.
Financial infrastructure · 2013
Payment-system modernization
The bank supports the modernization of Haiti's payment infrastructure. Its 2013 Maya Declaration commitment identified payment-system improvement as a continuing policy priority, linking the central bank's work to more efficient and accessible financial transactions.
Financial development
Financial-inclusion policy
The BRH promotes policies intended to broaden access to formal financial services. Its participation in the Alliance for Financial Inclusion and its stated commitments on payments and microfinance place inclusion among the bank's development-oriented activities.
Financial regulation · 2013
Microfinance regulation and supervision
The bank has supported the development of legislation to regulate and supervise microfinance institutions. This work is intended to strengthen the framework governing a segment of Haiti's financial system and to support more responsible expansion of financial access.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Maya Declaration financial-inclusion commitment
Haiti
The BRH announced a Maya Declaration commitment through the Alliance for Financial Inclusion framework. The commitment centered on continuing payment-system modernization and advancing legislation for the regulation and supervision of microfinance institutions.
Brand decisions
2013
Commit to payment modernization and microfinance oversightStrategyBackground
The BRH's financial-inclusion agenda included participation in the Alliance for Financial Inclusion and a stated interest in improving Haiti's financial infrastructure.
Action taken
The bank announced a Maya Declaration commitment to continue modernizing the payment system and submit legislation concerning microfinance regulation and supervision.
1979
Separate central banking from commercial bankingStrategyBackground
The National Bank of the Republic of Haiti had served as the country's principal bank of issue and was later owned by the Haitian government.
Action taken
The institution was divided into the Banque nationale de crédit, a commercial bank, and the Bank of the Republic of Haiti, the new central bank.
Aftermath
The restructuring established the BRH as Haiti's dedicated central monetary institution.
Recent events
- 2024
BRH facility stormed during Haiti unrest[1]
Other
The central bank facility in Port-au-Prince was attacked during Haiti's 2024 riots. Security guards repelled the assault, and three people were killed.
- 2023
Ronald Gabriel becomes governor[1]
Leadership change
Ronald Gabriel took over as governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti in October 2023, succeeding Jean Baden Dubois.
- 2013
Maya Declaration commitment on financial inclusion and payments[1]
Regulation
The bank announced a commitment to continue modernizing Haiti's payment system and to submit legislation concerning the regulation and supervision of microfinance institutions.
Sources1 sources
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