Govt workers receiving salaries through bank accounts to get cash grants first

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 March 2026, 18:26 by Writer

An estimated 50,000 central government employees, who receive salaries through their bank accounts, will be the first to receive the GY$100,000 cash grant when the payout begins next week, finance minister Dr Ashni Singh said.

“The first cohort will comprise those central government employees who have previously provided their bank account information and are receiving their government salaries into their bank accounts,” Dr Singh was quoted as saying in a finance ministry statement.

He said direct deposits would be made into the accounts of 50,000 public servants, teachers and members of the Disciplined Services by next week. “It is our intention that this efficiency encourages the wider public to embrace modern banking,” he added.

The finance minister said the government would be following up with subsequent cohorts of eligible beneficiaries afterwards.

All Guyanese 18 years and older are eligible for the cash grant.

The finance ministry said the payout through the banking system is consistent with President Ali’s previous announcement encouraging all citizens to open bank accounts as part of government’s digitisation agenda.

With active bank accounts, the government said it would be able to transfer cash grants swiftly, securely, and efficiently as is currently being done with the disbursements to central government employees. 

“A central pillar of this initiative is to promote financial inclusion. This is why we are urging all Guyanese to utilise the formal banking system,” Minister Singh said.

To allow for the disbursement of the grant to other citizens, the finance ministry said the government would be launching an online digital platform to be announced in due course to facilitate registration of all other eligible beneficiaries with guidance to be provided on the use of the platform. 

In anticipation of the rollout of the cash grant, the Ministry of Finance says it has been working with financial institutions to simplify the process of opening online bank accounts which the following commercial banks have been facilitating:

• Demerara Bank Limited – https://demerarabank.com/individual-application/
• Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited – https://gbtibank.com/apply-for-an-account/
• Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited – https://www.republicguyana.com/republiconboard
• Scotiabank Guyana Incorporated – https://apply.online.scotiabank.com/product/decision-prompt?lang=en&country=GY&product=31&currency=GYD

In its 2025 Manifesto, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government pledged to further promote financial inclusion amongst citizens and make financing more easily and affordably available to Guyanese businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and households, with the objective of fostering a more inclusive financial system. The aim being to empower all Guyanese citizens to access financial systems and participate in saving and investment opportunities across the country.

In recent years, a number of interventions were implemented, including distributing cash grants for newborn babies, cash grants (which increased each year) to students in both public and private schools, more than doubling the old age pension and increasing public assistance, amongst other measures.

New measures, including transportation grants for students and pensioners, were announced this year.