I am from the UK and holiday with my family in Grand Cayman every year. We have always brought American Express US dollar travellers cheques with us for spending money and we could cash them at (a local bank). But that bank recently changed its policy regarding cashing these to non-customers.

Cayman National Bank

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Here in the UK it isn’t so easy to obtain credit cards, and there isn’t a UK bank on the island. Travellers cheques may sound old school, but for a traveller who is 4,000 miles away from home relying on a card is bad practice. There is a 24/48 hour replacement service for lost or stolen American Express cheques which is why we favour them. Cards offer no such guarantees.

I wondered if you could find out for us any bank on the island who will exchange American Express US dollar travellers cheques.


Auntie’s answer: I must say your question took me completely off guard. In my youth, and before I had a credit card, I would always buy travellers cheques when going abroad. I haven’t done so in more years than I care to remember, and was not aware anyone still used them.

But I did look into this for you and I failed to find a bank in Cayman – including the one that you asked about – that either offers or accepts travellers cheques.

If any reader has other information on travellers cheques, please share it.