Cybersecurity standards must be enhanced as financial services become increasingly digital, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.

The warning comes as Guyana modernises its payments landscape through Fast Pay, a national real-time payment platform developed by the Bank of Guyana, and plans to link into India's Unified Payments Interface. Commercial banks are also expanding online banking and digital wallets, with the central bank granting approvals that pave the way for electronic transfers to become the standard.

The IMF's recommendations came as its Executive Board concluded the 2026 Article IV consultation with Guyana.

Beyond cybersecurity, the IMF noted that the banking system remains well capitalised, liquid and with improving asset quality. However, it called for a comprehensive macroprudential framework and close monitoring of rapid housing market growth, supported by a real estate price index.

On monetary policy, the IMF recommended that liquidity be managed through foreign exchange operations and greater use of treasury bills and reserve requirements, to keep broad money growth aligned with nominal non-oil GDP growth. It added that additional tightening would be warranted if demand, credit or exchange rate pressures intensify.

Turning to the exchange rate, the current regime remains appropriate, according to the IMF, although greater flexibility could be considered over the medium term to aid adjustment and resilience to shocks. Over time, activating the interest rate channel and deepening financial markets would also improve transmission.

The IMF also called for continued efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and anti-corruption frameworks, including through the Integrity Commission and the asset declaration regime.