Banco Internacional de Sao Tome e Principe

Banco Internacional de São Tome e Príncipe (BISTP) is the larger and older commercial bank in São Tomé e Príncipe. It consists of a head office and three branches.

In 1993 the government joined with two Portuguese banks, Banco Nacional Ultramarino and Banco Totta e Açores, to establish BISTP. The government owned 42%, and the two banks shared the remaining 52%. The Portuguese bank, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, which had acquired Banco Nacional Ultramarino in 1988, merged with it fully in 2001. In 2000, Banco Santander acquired Banco Totta e Açores and disposed of its interest in BISTP to Caixa Geral de Depósitos, which now owns 52% of BISTP.