While the number of bank branches in the country has grown significantly, the number of Guatemalans who have a bank account is less than 25%.
Experts in the field, such as the economist Julio Estrada, say that one of the main advantages of the population being involved in banking is access to credit, which enhances a country's development.
Despite the low level of banking identified by the experts, more and more banks are expanding their service network in the country, but branches are concentrated in the metropolitan region.
In the past five years the number of bank branches increased from 10 to 20 per 100 thousand inhabitants, according to the Superintendency of Banks (SIB).
An article on elperiodico.com.gt notes: "In the metropolitan region there are 40.3 branches per 100 thousand residents whereas in the northeast, which includes the regions of Chiquimula, El Progreso, Zacapa and Izabal, the figure is only 23.8 branches.
Furthermore in Huehuetenango and Quiché, which constitute the northwest, the SIB reported a rate of 10.9 branches, and in Alta Verapaz and Baja Verapaz there are only 9.5 branches per 100 thousand inhabitants. These 2 regions have the lowest rates of banking. "
Source: elperiodico.com.gt
More on this topic
January 2011
Panama ranks second in Latin America in number of bank branches and ATMs per 100,000 people with 90.28, surpassed only by Brazil with 99.37.
"Banking, or access to banking services, plays an important role in economic development of countries and in reducing poverty while promoting income distribution."
September 2010
The Guatemalan bank will invest $20 million in the opening of five agencies in El Salvador.
Luis Lara Groject, Banco Industrial's manager, commented that the opening had been planned for May but the development of information systems took longer than expected.
According to elperiodico.com.gt the new Salvadoran branches will have $20 million worth of capital initially.
October 2011
New technologies will be the basis for changes affecting users of financial services in the future.
Accessing your account from Facebook and financing being offered at the time you buy a product are some of the innovations that we could be seeing in the coming years in the banking industry.
December 2011
Costa Rica currently has 4,301,712 inhabitants, which establishes a population growth of 1.1% annually during the period 2000-2011.
A statement from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC) reads:
According to preliminary figures from the Population and Housing Census 2011, Costa Rica has 4,301,712 inhabitants.
español
1895
