The Centrale Bank van Aruba (the Bank) started its operations on January 1, 1986, when Aruba obtained its status as an autonomous country within the
Kingdom of the Netherlands. Prior to this period, Aruba formed part of the
Netherlands Antilles under jurisdiction of the
Bank of the Netherlands Antilles. The bank is a legal entity in itself (
sui generis) with an autonomous position within Aruba's public sector. With the inception of the bank, the Aruban florin was brought into circulation at the same rate as the
Netherlands Antillean guilder, pegged to the U.S. dollar at a rate of Afl. 1.79 (= 1 NAf.) = US$1.00. This exchange rate has remained unchanged since then. The principle tasks of the bank are to maintain the internal and external value of the florin and to promote the soundness and integrity of the financial system. ==Presidents==