1st National Bank Saint Lucia review
Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
1st National Bank Saint Lucia suits people who bank in Saint Lucia and want a local Visa debit card with multi-currency and travel features. The monthly fee is XCD 5, the free ATM withdrawal allowance is XCD 0, and currency conversion costs 2%, which adds up on any trip abroad.
Key facts
- Best for
- A local bank customer who wants a Visa debit card for everyday spending abroad from the island.
- Monthly fee
- EC$5 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Currency conversion fee
- 2% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free ATM withdrawals
- EC$0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card type
- Debit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card network
- Visa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- 1st National Bank St Lucia Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Saint Lucia (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 1938 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Multi-currency, Travel
- Official website
- 1stnationalbankonline.com
Credit cards
- Currency conversion fee
- 2% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card kind
- Credit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- 1st National Bank St Lucia Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Saint Lucia (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 1938 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Multi-currency, Travel
Apps and profiles
Pros and cons
Pros
- Multi-currency and travel features are listed on the debit card: multi currency and travel, running on the visa network.
- The bank has been operating since 1938, so the provider is long established locally.
- Support runs on email and phone, so a call or an email reaches the bank.
Cons
- Currency conversion costs 2%, above the site median at 1%.
- A monthly fee of XCD 5 applies, while the site median monthly fee is €0.
- The free ATM withdrawal allowance is XCD 0, so cash machine use carries a charge.
Who it suits
- People who already bank with 1st National Bank Saint Lucia and spend mainly in the local currency.
- Travellers who want multi-currency and travel features on one card: multi currency and travel.
- Customers who would rather phone or email the bank than use a chat channel: email and phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if a monthly fee of £0 matters more than holding a local account.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, whose monthly fee is $0 and who wants a secured credit card rather than a debit card.
- Chime Card, a secured Visa credit card with a monthly fee of $0.
Fees and currency costs
The debit account carries a monthly fee of XCD 5, and converting currency costs 2%. For context, the site median monthly fee is €0 and the site median conversion fee is 1%, so both charges here sit above those figures. Conversion cost is the item to budget for on any trip abroad.
Who runs it
The account is issued by 1st National Bank St Lucia Limited, headquartered in Saint Lucia, and the bank has been operating since 1938. Customer support runs on email and phone only, so a call or an email is the route to any question about the card.
How 1st National Bank Saint Lucia compares
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Where 1st National Bank Saint Lucia is available
- Available
- Saint Lucia
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does the debit card cost each month?+
The debit account carries a monthly fee of XCD 5. The same tariff guide sets the currency conversion fee at 2%, so a card used only for local spending costs less over a year. If a monthly charge is the deciding factor, Wise lists £0.
How much does it cost to convert currency?+
Conversion costs 2%, which is above the site median at 1% and under the site maximum of 10.5%. The card carries multi-currency and travel features: multi currency and travel, so the fee matters on trips away from the island.
Are ATM withdrawals free?+
The free ATM withdrawal allowance is XCD 0, so taking cash out is not free on this account. Card payments for day to day spending in Saint Lucia are the cheaper route. Anyone who needs cash often should weigh that charge before opening the account.
What kind of card is this?+
It is a debit card, debit, on the visa network, so spending draws straight on the bank account with no credit balance to manage. The same bank also offers a credit card, credit, for anyone who also wants to borrow.
Who is this card for?+
It suits people who bank with 1st National Bank Saint Lucia and want a local debit card carrying multi-currency and travel features: multi currency and travel. Travellers who expect to convert currency should weigh the fee of 2% first, since it applies to every conversion.
How do I reach help if the card goes wrong?+
Support runs on email and phone, so a call or an email is the route to any question about the card. The bank has been operating since 1938 and issues the card as 1st National Bank St Lucia Limited, so both channels reach the provider that holds the account.
Can I get a credit card from the same bank?+
Yes. Alongside the debit card, debit, the bank offers a credit card, credit. Customers who want to borrow as well as spend can keep both with the same provider, 1st National Bank St Lucia Limited, which is headquartered in Saint Lucia.
Sources
- 1stnationalbankonline.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Support channels
“Head office situated in Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia”
- 1stnationalbankonline.com/services/1st-credit-card checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card kind
“1st Credit Card”
- 1stnationalbankonline.com/services/1st-debit-card checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Features, Card network
“1st Debit Card”
- 1stnationalbankonline.com/tariff-guide checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free ATM withdrawals, Currency conversion fee, Monthly fee
“Transactions at the bank's own ATMs are free for debit cardholders”
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_National_Bank_of_St_Lucia checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“incorporated in 1937 and opened for business in January 1938”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Protection.
Related by the facts
1st National Bank Saint Lucia
A local bank customer who wants a Visa debit card for everyday spending abroad from the island.