Specialty lending & services for investors in private markets and listed equities.

St. James Bank & Trust is a Bahamian bank and trust company. Since 1999, we have lent against, held and administered the private and illiquid assets that most banks will not take, including hedge fund and private equity interests, private company shares and other alternative holdings.

Our Mission

Liquidity for assets
that are hard to transact.

Our mission is to make the financing, custody and administration of private funds and securities easier, cheaper and more efficient for market participants, through our expertise, technology and sole dedication to this business.

What we do

Specialized Solutions for Private Assets

St. James Bank & Trust provides financing secured by fund interests, listed equities and privately held company shares. Our services also encompass custody, execution and administration of private securities and alternative investments, offering capabilities that extend beyond those of conventional banks.

Why St. James

A Different Kind of Banking Partner

Licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of The Bahamas, St. James Bank & Trust has focused on private asset financing, custody and administration since 1999. Our specialized expertise allows us to work with assets that most lenders decline, providing direct access to decision-makers and faster responses than conventional institutions.

OUR History

Twenty-seven years with a core focus: providing liquidity.

St. James was incorporated in The Bahamas in 1999 and spent its first two decades within some of the largest groups in alternative asset management. Since 2018 it has been independently owned, with a single focus: financing, custody and administration for investors in hedge funds, private equity funds and privately held companies. We are evolving to provide ever increasing liquidity and credit options against a wider selection of securities and asset classes.

“Private fund interests are not hard to lend against because they are poor collateral. They are hard because most institutions are not built to hold them. We built the bank’s system and infrastructure around holding them.”

– BERNARD KEMP, President