TTMB Wins Social Bond of the Year at Global Banking and Markets Awards

In the photo:

Seated Left to Right:
Julian Belgrave, IDB Group Country Representative for Trinidad and Tobago
Brent Mc Fee – Chief Executive Officer (Ag)
Laurette Walker – Chief Financial Officer

Standing Left to Right:
Avinash Marajh, Investment Management Officer
Darryl White, Managing Director for the Caribbean of IDB Invest
Senator the Hon. Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh – Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and Minister in the Ministry of Finance
Stephen Thomas, Director for the Caribbean of the Financial Sector Division
Sharla Maharaj – Treasury Officer

Port of Spain, February 27, 2026 – The Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Bank Limited (TTMB) has been awarded Social Bond of the Year – Deal of the Year at the prestigious Global Banking and Markets (GBM) Awards, held at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa on February 26, 2026. TTMB received the honor for its groundbreaking TTD 550 million social bonds with a gender focus, marking its first thematic issuance and only the second of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago.

Since 2014, the GBM Awards have become the most authoritative accreditation program in the world’s fastest-developing capital markets. Their Deal of the Year awards recognize the most innovative and transformative transactions across sovereign, corporate, and financial institution issuers in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Advisory and Monitoring Support

As part of the preparation for this thematic issuance, IDB Invest provided advisory services to TTMB to develop a social bond framework with a gender lens. This framework, aligned with ICMA’s Social Bond Principles, defines eligibility criteria focused on affordable housing, including specific provisions for women and women-led mortgages.

Also aligned with the International Capital Market Association’s (ICMA) Social Bond Principles, TTMB’s bonds were issued in two series:

Series 1 (2025): TTD 250 million, subscribed solely by IDB Invest
Series 2: Up to TTD 300 million

IDB Invest also supported TTMB in engaging a Second Party Opinion (SPO) provider to ensure independent validation of the bond’s framework, integrity, and impact monitoring. In addition to financing, IDB Invest is collaborating with TTMB to establish a monitoring and reporting framework to track the bond’s impact, ensuring transparency and alignment with international best practices. This initiative exemplifies IDB Invest’s commitment to fostering financial innovation, fair opportunities, and inclusive economic growth in the region.

The financing expands TTMB’s mortgage portfolio with a focus on middle and lower middle-income families, and places special emphasis on women and women-led households. Proceeds will support affordable housing through government-subsidized mortgage programs, addressing long-standing gaps in credit access for citizens who are disproportionately excluded from traditional financing. Women, in particular, face systemic barriers such as the gender pay gap and the financial burdens of leading one-third of households, increasing their risk of housing insecurity.

Brent Mc Fee, CEO (Ag.) of TTMB, says: “This award recognizes TTMB’s commitment to delivering affordable residential mortgage financing for low- to middle-income households who are often excluded from traditional banking institutions. Our social bond advances TTMB’s ESG agenda and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.”

Setting the Tone for Innovation

Building on the success of this award-winning issuance, TTMB is preparing to introduce a new product designed specifically for women and women-led households. While details will be shared at the official launch, this initiative reflects TTMB’s ongoing commitment to empowerment, inclusion, and generational wealth creation. The product will complement the social bond’s objectives by further expanding access to homeownership and strengthening resilience for women across Trinidad and Tobago.

About Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Bank

Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Bank (TTMB) is the result of a strategic merger of Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance Company Limited (TTMF) and the Home Mortgage Bank (HMB). TTMB is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of security and trust, embodying our brand values of being inclusive, caring, innovative, committed, and competent. Our tagline, Own Your Future, reflects our mission: To give our customers the opportunity to build wealth through our line of premier mortgages, investments and commercial product offerings – with a customer centric approach, and dedication to success. Visit our website www.ttmortgagebank.com.