Panamanian banks have not used the extra funds that the financial incentive program (PEF) made available to them in order to stimulate lending. In addition, it must be considered that said funds are very expensive, and they have simply not been needed.
With a liquidity of 65%, the Panamanian banking system maintains a cautious attitude that has reduced their profitability some 33% when a comparison is made between the first quarters of 2008 and 2009. Banking customers also have a cautious attitude; actors in an economy that is bearing the global crisis better than others in the region.
In an interesting and well-founded analysis of this issue by Yolanda Sandoval and Edith Castillo D. in an article in Martesfinanciero.com, they stated: "Having enough capacity to convert liquid assets makes banks technically more powerful in times of global crisis. It allows them not to have to depend on foreign funds and it gives their customers a sense of security. It's like sending a message that there is enough money to meet all the responsibilities that the bank has, and it is what has happened in Panama."
Source: martesfinanciero.com
More on this topic
October 2008
The Panama Banking system has a liquidity of $14 billion and $115 million is affected by the credit crisis.
The Panama Superintendent of Banks, Olegario Barrelier, declared to the National Assembly that the $115 million affected by the crisis represent "a very low proportion" when compared to the $51 billion in assets in the national banking system or the $75 billion in the international banking center.
October 2008
Banks in Panama have enough liquidity and are properly positioned to face the international credit crisis, the head of supervising the sector said on Monday.
Olegario Barrelier, superintendent of Banks in Panama, said that liquidity in the banking sector in the country was close to 58% of deposits, with a manageable level of exposure to international markets that have been shaken by the US financial crisis.
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.
February 2009
An analysis of the changes in the dynamics of granting credit, in an interview with the Superintendent of the Salvadorian Financial System.
Luis Armando Montenegro, Superintendent of the Financial System, in an interview published in La Prensa Gráfica, responds to questions about the liquidity of the Salvadorian financial system, the contraction of external credit to the local banking system, changes in the granting of loans, and interest rates, among other issues.
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