Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB)

Basic Information

The Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) is the statutory regulatory authority overseeing investment funds, securities, digital assets, and capital markets in The Bahamas. Established in 1995 under the Securities Board Act, it operates under the Ministry of Finance and is headquartered at Poinciana House, 31A East Bay Street, Nassau. As of December 2024, the SCB employs 99 full-time staff and is led by Executive Director Christina R. Rolle.

Historical Background

The SCB was formed in 1995, replacing the earlier Securities Board of The Bahamas. Its mandate was later updated through the Securities Industry Act of 2011 and subsequent legislation, including the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (DARE) Act (2024) and the Carbon Credit Trading Act (2022). These reforms reflect its evolving role in regulating emerging financial sectors such as cryptocurrency and environmental markets.

Legal Authority and Regulatory Framework

The SCB derives its authority from multiple laws:

Securities Industry Act, 2024: Governs securities markets and public offerings.
Investment Funds Act, 2019: Regulates investment fund operations.
Financial and Corporate Service Providers Act, 2020: Oversees corporate service providers.
DARE Act, 2024: Manages digital asset exchanges and tokenized securities.
Carbon Credit Trading Act, 2022: Supervises carbon credit markets.

Core Responsibilities

The SCB’s regulatory scope includes:

Market surveillance to ensure fair trading practices and systemic risk mitigation.
Licensing of securities brokers, investment advisors, and fund administrators.
Enforcement against financial crimes, including market manipulation and fraud.
Investor education programs like the #WatchYaMoney anti-scam campaign.

Verification of Regulated Entities

To confirm if a firm is SCB-regulated:

Visit the official SCB website (scb.gov.bs) and access the “Licensees and Registrants” list.
Contact the SCB Compliance Division via phone (+242-397-4100) or email ([email protected]) for verification.

Contact Information

Address: Poinciana House, 31A East Bay Street, P.O. Box N-8347, Nassau, Bahamas
Phone: +242-397-4100 / +242-356-6291
Fax: +242-356-7530
Email: [email protected] (Executive Director)

Relevant Navigation

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