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Central America: of 71 Banks, 32 are Foreign

Central American banks accumulate $61.119 billion in assets, and 55% of its capital is of foreign origin

Thursday, February 19, 2009

©image: Cliff

The blog "From Guatemala" publishes an analysis that describes the different degrees of internationalization of the banking systems of the region, from the Salvadorian banking system, where 95% of assets belong to foreign banks to the cases of the National Bank of Costa Rica and the Industrial de Guatemala, the largest banks of the isthmus, both based on local capital.

The analysis also details the different processes of acquisition and purchase of local banks by international financial groups.

Source: desdeguate.blogspot.com

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Fitch Ratings Special: Central American Banks

February 2009

From abundance to scarcity: Challenges faced by Central American banks in an environment of tight liquidity.

After having been hit hard by the US mortgage crisis in 2008, large US and international banks have considerably weakened, in some cases escaping from bankruptcy only thanks to strong government intervention.

Central American Banks: Annual Results and Perspectives

April 2009

Fitch Ratings reported that the risks to regional banks during the current crisis are growing and represent a major challenge for 2009.

The combination of reduced credit expansion, fund restrictions and increasing loan provisions have limited the profits of most banks and it is expected for these factors to continue to pressure the results in the coming months.

Central Banking in 2012

January 2012

A Fitch Special Report indicates better positioning in the face of external uncertainty.

SUMMARY

Strengthened Financial Performance:
The banking systems of Central America and the Dominican Republic (hereinafter the region) will continue to strengthen their financial performance as the region continues to recover its rate of GDP growth, estimated at about 4% by 2012 under Fitch’s baseline scenario.

Assets of Central American banks growing by US$9 billion a year

June 2008

The assets of Central America's banks are growing by more than US$9 billion a year and the presence of foreign capital is growing in the sector.

At the end of last year, the total assets of the region's 76 banks came to US$58.8 billion, a 16.4 percent increase on 2006, and 47 of them were foreign controlled or had foreign participation in their capital.

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