If you still have any uncashed cheques, you better take them to the bank because they soon won’t be any good!

Scotiabank, First Global Bank and CIBC are among the first to begin phasing out cheques.  Full discontinuation is planned for March 2028.

But starting September 1, 2026 participating customers will no longer be able to issue or deposit cheques valued at one million jamaican dollars or more.

That limit will fall to Five hundred thousand dollars in March 2027… Then One hundred Thousand by September 2027… Before cheques are FULLY  discontinued on March 1, 2028.

Rather than removing cheques all at once, the changes are being introduced in stages over the next few years, giving customers and businesses time to adjust before the planned phase-out in 2028.

So… why is this happening?

The phase-out of cheques isn’t happening on its own.  It’s part of a much bigger shift in how Jamaicans pay, transfer, and receive money.  

The emergence of new financial technologies, such as digital wallets, shows that Jamaica’s payment landscape is continuing to evolve.

Digital payments are generally faster, easier to track, and more convenient than paper cheques, reducing the need to visit a branch just to complete a transaction.

For many Jamaicans, this transition may come as a surprise.

The reality is, not everyone uses money the same way.

While many Jamaicans have embraced digital payments, others still rely on cheques for certain transactions.

Whether you still write cheques or haven’t used one in years, this announcement is another sign that the way money moves in Jamaica is changing.

And that’s the Bottom Line.

So when is the last time you used a cheque, if ever? Do you think it’s time we abolished them, or do they still play an important role?