The Digital Divide in Business

Today I met a visitor from a Mid-Atlantic state who left her physical credit cards at home. She was so accustomed to using digital wallets like Apple Pay. When she landed in St. Croix, no rental car company would serve her without a physical credit card.

Here’s the kicker: we have Avis and Hertz franchises on St. Croix, and on the mainland, Avis Preferred and Hertz Gold allows members in most cities to walk off the plane, show an ID, and drive off. No swipe. No hassle.

But here? Digital payments weren’t enough.

This isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a signal that we’re behind. Zelle and Cash App aren’t offered by most of our local banks. Stripe, Square, and Shopify require workarounds. Many fintech companies won’t even serve Virgin Islands businesses. She wondered, how is this part of the US?

We can do better.

Regulators can modernize outdated compliance frameworks. Banks can prioritize digital integration. Business owners and community leaders can advocate for the tools we need to compete and connect.

The world has changed. If we want to grow our economy, welcome more visitors, and empower local businesses—we must catch up. She was thankful that she at least had access to VI Hail and Boomerang Eats.

#TechInTheVI #DigitalAccess #InnovationInParadise #USVI #FintechNow #ModernizeTheVI