In 2024, Jamaicans swiped, tapped, and inserted their cards to the tune of over 1 trillion JMD in transactions. Quietly and consistently, the payment terminal industry has grown into one of the country’s largest and most lucrative markets—yet few truly recognize its scale.
Behind every card payment at a pharmacy, supermarket, or wholesaler lies a complex web of fees, infrastructure, and financial control. And at the center of it all? National Commercial Bank (NCB)—which currently holds an estimated 70% share of Jamaica’s terminal processing market.
Through aggressive terminal deployment, strategic banking ties, and legacy relationships with retailers, NCB has effectively cemented itself as the gatekeeper of one of the most critical flows of money on the island.
Yet despite this dominance, public discourse remains strangely quiet on the subject. There are no headlines. No national strategy debates. Just silent extraction—percentages shaved off every sale, amounting to billions across the year.
As digital commerce accelerates and mobile banking adoption deepens, the spotlight may soon turn toward this long-overlooked industry. And when it does, Jamaicans may realize that one of their most valuable national assets isn’t bauxite or tourism—but the devices processing everyday purchases at the register.
