Person looking at clouds out of plane window
A Small Island with Global Reach
45+

London-Jersey daily flights

1hr

Average flight time from the UK

£131.4bn

in deposits

20

Banking licenses

About Jersey

Location

Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands, located in the English Channel between the UK and France. The Islands, which also include Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm, among some other smaller islands, are not independent countries, but rather British Crown Dependencies that are technically Bailiwicks.

Language

Our main language is English, but most European languages are catered for in Jersey.

 

Currency

While we use the British pound and the Jersey pound (valued 1:1) as our main currency, we accept all major currencies for transactions

Independence

Our status as a Crown Dependency allows everyone to benefit from an International Finance Centre that’s close to, but independent from, Britain and mainland Europe. As such Jersey law is different to that of the UK

Education

Our population and our government consider education to be vital to the Island, and we make sure that both children and adults are set up for positive futures

World-class talent

A large proportion of Islanders work together in our finance and supporting industries, meaning our talent is both homegrown and ready to provide a world-class service

Invested in technology

Jersey is actively encouraging the growth of fintech initiatives, meaning they can provide quality support and a dynamic future for a finance industry

Communications

We have world-leading business communications links, including high-speed telecommunications (the 2rd fastest broadband in the world*), together with cutting-edge information technology and postal services

Economy

Jersey’s history has been a colourful one. The Island’s economy has evolved from the days of thriving knitting, boat building and fishing industries, to successes in agriculture, tourism and finance; the latter which now provides around 54% of the Island’s revenue

Our History

Jersey landmark of Corbiere Lighthouse
A fascinating history A lot has happened over the centuries that’s shaped us into the Island we are today. Here’s a very brief look at the major events:

1204: The Anglo-Norman Kingdom divides and Jersey pledges allegiance to the English Crown.

1646: Islander Sir George (de) Carteret offers refuge to exiled Charles II during the English Civil War.

1660: Charles II returns to England after the Civil War, and gives George Carteret joint ownership of New Jersey, America, as a reward.

1945: World War II ends and Jersey is liberated from German occupation, leaving behind fortifications that are open for visitors today. Find out more from our award-winning historical trust, at www.jerseyheritage.org.

1961: Banks began to establish offshore operations in earnest to meet the growing demands of British customers living or working aboard.

1984: Jersey was the first jurisdiction to bring trust and company service providers within a regulatory regime by passing the Jersey Trust Law.

2001: Jersey Finance was founded to promote Jersey as an international finance centre globally.

2009: Jersey Finance opened an office in Hong Kong and Jersey companies became able to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

2018 : Jersey Finance became the first international finance centre to set up an office in the Dubai International Finance Centre.

2019 : EU Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) confirmed Jersey’s position as a co-operative jurisdiction following an extensive period of assessment.

To view the full timeline click here.

Jersey Facts

  • The capital of the Island, St Helier, is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey and has a population of 35,822 – over one-third of the total population
  • Jersey measures approximately nine miles by 5 miles, with over 48 miles of coast
  • Given its location close to France, Jersey has a mixed Franco-British culture, however modern Jersey is culture is very dominated by British cultural influences and has also been influenced by immigrant communities such as the Bretons and the Portuguese (mainly from Madeira)
  • Jersey is, by nature, an Island of migrants and, as explained by the Island Identity Project which seeks to understand how members of the public, parishes, businesses and organisations value Jersey,  the migration of people over many thousands of years has shaped and influenced the Island we know today
  • While financial services is Jersey’s largest economy, its traditional industries of farming and fishing are important to the Island as a source of income and jobs, and form a vital part of our heritage and of how Jersey is seen by the rest of the world. Tourism is another sector in Jersey with a distinguished history, and in recent years the Island has see the emergence of and invested in the particular opportunity presented by Digital
  • In December 2021 the total number of jobs in the economy was 62,260, an annual increase of 3.7%, with over 13,600 – or 20% – in finance
  • Jersey is considered an ‘offshore’ finance jurisdiction. The IMF define this as a “country or jurisdiction that provides financial services to nonresidents on a scale that is incommensurate with the size and the financing of its domestic economy meaning the term often but not always refers to offshore islands
  • Jèrriais is the traditional language of Jersey, which is closely related to French. While fewer than 2,500 people are now thought to speak the language many of Jersey’s place names and roads are in Jèrriais
  • Aside from our reputation as a finance centre, Jersey is well known for the Jersey cow, Jersey Royal potato, its bays and beaches making it a prime destination for holidays, and its fascinating military history