Credit Card Market Stagnant in El Salvador

Consumer budgets are still healing from the economic crisis, delaying a recovery in credit card lending.

Thursday, April 8, 2010


©image: Mike

Almost 60.000 credit cards were cancelled during 2008 and 2009, half of them for delinquency by their owners. Many others maxed out their credit and cannot use their cards anymore.

The new credit card law seems to make things even worse, as it requires consumers to have a certified income of at least $500 in order to apply for a credit card. The previous minimum was $300.

Sergio Cruz Fernández, vice president of consumer banking at Scotiabank, considers that in 2010 the market won’t see the same growth as in past years. He expects moderate growth”.

More on this topic

Fewer Loans to Private Sector in El Salvador

April 2010

At the end of February the loan portfolio of Salvadoran banks was 4.6% smaller than the same month of 2009.

In February 2010 banks had a combined loan portfolio of $8.09 billion, down from $8.47 billion in February 2009.

Claudio de Rosa is the former CEO of ABANSA, the Association of Salvadoran Banks.

Financial crisis starting to affect Nicaraguan Banking

December 2008

The effects are already visible, there is a strong reduction in the credit for housing and vehicles, as well as a restriction of credit cards.

This was confirmed by representatives of the sector, after participating in presentation of the fourth report on the economic situation by the Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development, Funides.

Salvadoran Banks carefully analyze new credits

November 2008

Salvadoran banks have started to restrict the granting of credit in order to avoid a liquidity crisis.

Various banks in the system "are being much more prudent and more cautious in their credit analysis," said the president of the Salvadoran Banking Association (Abansa), Armando Arias.

Honduras: Credit Stagnant due to Over-Regulation

May 2011

The high reserve requirements and government regulation are preventing the growth of private sector credit.

While the coffers of the banks are filled with notes due to growth in deposits and liquidity in the economy, the country's productive sector can not find adequate financing to boost growth.


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