What Currency Does Panama Use?

What Currency Does Panama Use?

The official currency of Panama is the Panamanian Balboa (PAB), which is pegged to the United States Dollar (USD) at a 1:1 fixed rate. While the Balboa is the official currency by law, Panama uses U.S. dollars for all paper money, and Balboa coins for local coinage. In everyday transactions, the USD functions as the primary currency, making Panama a fully dollarized economy in practice.

• Currency Name: Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
• Currency Symbol: B/. for Balboa and $ for USD
• Pegged Exchange Rate: 1 PAB = 1 USD

What Currency Does Panama Use in Daily Life?
In daily transactions, USD banknotes are used exclusively, while Panama only mints coins in Balboas and centésimos (similar to cents). There are no Panamanian paper bills in circulation.

What Is Panama Currency Symbol?

Panama uses two currency symbols:

• B/. — for Balboa (used on coins)
• $ — for U.S. Dollars (used for pricing, accounting, banking)

This duality is key for businesses, travelers, and forex traders to understand. For instance, forex charts and platforms will usually reflect transactions in USD when dealing with Panama-related financial data.

What Does Panama Money Look Like?

Panama’s coins are locally minted, featuring national symbols and famous historical figures, while paper currency is all in U.S. Dollars. Here’s what Panama’s money includes:

Currency	Type	Description
Coins	Balboa (B/.)	1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 centésimos + 1 Balboa coin
Notes	USD ($)	$1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 (All U.S. dollar bills)

These coins are almost identical in size and weight to U.S. coins, making them interchangeable within Panama’s borders.

Why Does Panama Use the U.S. Dollar?

From a trader’s perspective, Panama’s adoption of the U.S. Dollar offers:

• Stability: Tying its currency to USD helps Panama avoid hyperinflation.
• Lower Transaction Costs: No currency conversion is needed for USD-based trade and remittances.
• Foreign Investment Confidence: Investors see dollarized economies as safer due to lower currency risk.

By eliminating central bank monetary control (Panama doesn’t have one), Panama sacrifices interest rate autonomy but gains currency stability, a trade-off common in dollarized nations.

How Does Panama’s Currency Affect Forex Trading?

While Panama does not issue its own paper currency or operate an independent monetary policy, the country’s currency setup still has implications for the foreign exchange (forex) market:

USD Dominance in Panama
Since Panama uses the USD exclusively for paper currency, forex traders won’t find a distinct PAB/USD pair. Instead, USD remains the key focus when analyzing Panama’s economic performance.

Popular Forex Pairs Related to Panama
Although Panama itself is not a forex hotspot, traders often track USD performance against Latin American currencies such as:

• USD/MXN (U.S. Dollar / Mexican Peso)
• USD/BRL (U.S. Dollar / Brazilian Real)
• USD/COP (U.S. Dollar / Colombian Peso)

These regional pairs can provide indirect signals on trade dynamics that may impact Panama.

What Drives Currencies in Dollarized Economies Like Panama?

For economies that use the USD, currency movements are not driven by local monetary policy. Instead, their economic outlook is affected by:

• U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decisions
• U.S. inflation and GDP data
• Global demand for the U.S. Dollar
• Trade balances and tourism inflows

For example, if the U.S. raises interest rates, Panama will import tighter financial conditions without the ability to ease them independently. This also means external shocks directly impact Panama without monetary cushioning.

Does Panama Have a Central Bank?

No, Panama does not have a central bank. Instead, private banks operate under a free-market system. The National Bank of Panama and Superintendency of Banks regulate financial activities but do not issue monetary policy or manage interest rates.

This decentralized approach aligns with Panama’s open-market economy and its dependence on global financial flows, especially through the Panama Canal and international banking sector.

Conclusion

Panama operates a unique dual-currency system where the Panamanian Balboa (PAB) is the official currency, but U.S. dollars (USD) are used for all paper money and major transactions. This dollarized structure brings monetary stability, reduces inflation risk, and attracts foreign investment, key factors that traders and investors monitor when analyzing Latin American economies.

At Ultima Markets, we help traders navigate the global forex landscape with real-time insights into USD movements, emerging market dynamics, and regional currency behavior. Understanding how Panama uses the U.S. dollar not only informs travel and business decisions but also deepens your macro view for trading in popular forex pairs linked to USD strength.