Deputy governor, banking currency operations and financial market infrastructures
Organisation
Bank of Jamaica
Biography
Mrs. Natalie Haynes has devoted her career to central banking and has served Bank of Jamaica and the Jamaican people for over 35 years. Born in St. Catherine, Jamaica Mrs. Haynes was educated in Jamaica at the University of the West Indies Mona, where she obtained a BSc degree in Economics and History (Honours) which she received in 1985 and a Masters degree in Economics, which she received in 1988. In 2019, Mrs. Haynes was appointed to the Executive Management of the Bank as Deputy Governor with responsibility for the Banking & Currency Operations and Payment System and Money Services Oversight Divisions. She currently leads a dynamic team of over 100 staff members, spanning seven departments. Throughout her career at Bank of Jamaica, Mrs. Haynes has spearheaded growth and innovation in the areas for which she has responsibility that have fostered the development of the local financial market. She was a critical part of the team for the implementation of the JamClear® Real Time Gross Settlement System and the JamClear® Central Securities Depository. In addition, in 2020, she was responsible for the implementation of the JamClear® Foreign Exchange Trading Platform. These financial markets infrastructures have not only served to modernize the financial system in Jamaica but also promoted development by ensuring transparency and price discovery. As Chairman of the Bank’s Oversight Committee for the implementation of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), Mrs. Haynes is leading the charge for this major fintech innovation by the Bank. She also serves as Chairman of Retail Payments of Jamaica and the National Payments Council and is a member of the Bank’s Financial Policy Committee. Most recently, Mrs. Haynes lead the process to introduce a redesigned series of Jamaican banknotes to the public, which included the introduction of a new $2000 note. This was indeed a historic accomplishment, as it marked the second time in our nation’s history that Bank of Jamaica released a full series of banknotes. The first time was in 1969 when Jamaica changed from pound, shilling and pence to dollars and cents. Throughout her career at BOJ Mrs. Haynes has represented the Bank at many international conferences and has served as a member of several international committees including the Caricom Fintech Working Group, Center for Latin American Monetary Studies (CEMLA) Forum on Fintech Data Gaps, Western Hemisphere Payments and Security Settlement Forum and the World Bank Expert Group on Faster Payments. In her private life, Mrs. Haynes is an active member of her church Unity of Jamaica, having previously served as Chairman of its Board, and is a Platform Assistant. She is a devoted wife and mother to her two children Robyn and Nathan-Edward.
