Belize's Currency: The Belize Dollar

The official currency of Belize is the Belize Dollar (BZD), which is abbreviated to BZ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-based currencies. The Belize Dollar is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of BZ$2 to US$1. This has been the case for over 25 years and means that US dollars are widely accepted in Belize, especially in tourist destinations. However, change is usually given in Belize dollars.

The Belize dollar is the official currency of Belize

The Belize dollar is divided into 100 cents and banknotes are issued in values of $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, with the $100 bill colloquially known as a blue buay (blue boy). The country also uses coins, with the largest being $1 and $2 denominations. Smaller coins include 50, 25, 10, 5, and 1 cent pieces.

The Belizean currency features a prominent image of Queen Elizabeth II on the front, reflecting the country's history as a former British colony. In July 2023, it was decided that future Belizean dollar bills would not feature the portrait of King Charles III but instead depict Belizean national heroes, including George Cadle Price and Philip Goldson.

Belize has a stable democratic government and a growing economy, with tourism as its leading industry. Visitors to Belize can use both US dollars and Belize dollars at most businesses, although smaller establishments may only accept Belize currency. ATMs are available in most major towns and cities and typically accept foreign cards, dispensing only Belize dollars. Banks and exchange houses can also be found across the country for currency exchange.

The currency code for the Belize dollar is BZD

The currency in Belize City, Belize, is the Belize dollar, often abbreviated as BZ or BZD. The currency code for the Belize dollar is BZD. The official value is pegged at BZ$2 = US$1, and the currency can be exchanged at most banks and hotels. ATMs in Belize generally accept foreign cards, and many businesses also accept US dollars, Mastercard, and Visa.

The Belize dollar has been the country's official currency for some time. It is divided into 100 cents and is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or BZ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. Belize was a former colony of Great Britain, and as a result, the country's banknotes and coins feature a prominent image of Queen Elizabeth II.

Belizean banknotes include the $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills, with the largest colloquially known as a blue buay (blue boy). The country's coins include the $1 and $2 coins, with smaller denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5, and 1 cent coins.

The Belize dollar has been pegged to the US dollar at a fixed exchange rate of 2:1 for over 25 years. This has informed the exchange rate with other countries. US cash is widely accepted in Belize, especially in tourist destinations. However, change will usually be given in Belize dollars at the $1 US to $2 BZ exchange rate.

The Belize dollar is abbreviated to BZ or BZ$

The Belize dollar is divided into 100 cents and banknotes include denominations of $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. The $100 bill is colloquially known as a blue buay (blue boy). The largest coins are $1 and $2, with smaller denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5, and 1 cents.

The currency can be exchanged at most banks and hotels, and many businesses accept US dollars. ATMs in Belize usually accept foreign cards. MasterCard, Visa, and AMEX are widely accepted.

The Belize dollar is printed by the British firm Thomas De La Rue Ltd. All local banknotes feature an image of Queen Elizabeth II on the front, as Belize is a member of the British Commonwealth.

The Belize dollar is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 2:1

The Belize dollar (BZD) is the official currency of Belize. It is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 2:1, meaning one US dollar is worth two Belize dollars. This fixed exchange rate has been in place for over 25 years and has been enforced by law since 2 May 2023.

The Belize dollar is often abbreviated as BZ or BZD and represented by the symbol BZ$. It is divided into 100 cents. The banknotes come in denominations of $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, while the coins include 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, as well as BZ$1 coins.

The Belizean currency has been pegged to the US dollar since 1978, but its history dates back much further. Before the introduction of the Belize dollar, the country used various currencies, including the British Honduras dollar, British pounds, and Spanish dollars. In 1931, when the UK abandoned the gold standard, Belize's currency became pegged to the US dollar.

Today, the Central Bank of Belize, established in 1982, manages the nation's foreign reserves and issues its currency. The bank has taken steps to ensure the use of the Belize dollar within the country, such as instructing banks and financial institutions to accept US cash currency at the official exchange rate. This decision aimed to address issues where businesses were reluctant to accept US currency due to unfavourable conversion rates when depositing US cash.

US dollars are widely accepted in Belize

The official currency of Belize is the Belize Dollar (BZD; symbol BZ$). The exchange rate is hard pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of BZ$2 to US$1. While this makes it convenient for travellers to use US dollars in Belize, it is important to note that change will likely be given in Belize dollars.

US cash is widely accepted in Belize, especially in tourist destinations. This includes banks and automatic teller machines (ATMs) that can be found across Belize in main towns and cities. They are the best way to access Belizean money.

Of the banks in Belize, Belize Bank is the most ubiquitous, with a network of 11 branches and 27 ATMs. ATMs are usually attached to the banks and accept credit cards by VISA, MasterCard, Plus, and Cirrus. You can withdraw up to BZ$1,500.00 a day for a BZ$3 fee.

Banks and ATMs can be found at the following locations: Belize City; Belmopan; Caye Caulker; Corozal Town; Dangriga; Hopkins; Orange Walk Town; Placencia; Punta Gorda; San Ignacio; and San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.

While US dollars are widely accepted in Belize, it is worth noting that Belize is primarily a cash society, where most locals do not own credit cards. As a result, many local shops and restaurants do not accept credit cards. However, this isn’t the case with hotels and tour operators or businesses in tourist destinations where it’s worth it for business owners to invest in payment processing systems.

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