Salvadoran Banks Warn of Fewer $1.000 Credit Cards

According to ABANSA, the proposed maximum 22% rate would affect credit cards with a $1.000 limit or less, 59% of the market.

Friday, July 24, 2009


©image: Colin

The Salvadoran Banking Association, known as ABANSA, warned of fewer supply of credit cards with less than $1.000 limit, if the credit card law proposal being studied is approved. With the 22% maximum interest rate, according to them, banks would not be able to cover the costs of providing this service for small amounts, as operative and irrecoverable costs increase significantly in this market segment.

ABANSA studies indicate that in the $500 or less segment, funding, operations and delinquency costs can reach up to 60%.

More on this topic

Banking Sector Against Credit Card Law Reform

September 2011

The Salvadoran Banking Association is opposing the adoption of a reform which sets a ceiling on interest rates that can be charged for credit card use.

Private banking sector representatives noted that the changes were approved without having performed prior technical analysis and this threatens their legal certainty.

Salvadoran Banks Oppose Fixing Interest Rates

July 2009

A credit card law proposal being studied by the Legislative Assembly would set a maximum interest rate of 22%.

Both the Banking Association of El Salvador (ABANSA), and the National Private Enterprise Association (ANEP), support the creation of a credit card law, that would provide greater transparency to the market, but disagree in regulating interest rates.

Irrecoverable Receivables Grow 37% in El Salvador

March 2009

From January 2008 to January 2009, the banking system’s unrecoverable portfolio grew by 36.9%.

The portfolio with the riskiest loans, known as "E" and classified as "irrecoverable," reached $246 million in January 2009, while $179.7 million were recorded in January 2008, a variation of $66.3 million.

El Salvador: Credit Card Law Reformed

September 2011

The new law places limits on the maximum interest rates that issuers can charge.

With the aim of establishing an appropriate legal framework, representatives have approved a reduction in the maximum interest rate as part of the Law on Credit Cards.

The lack of knowledge about how to use this method of financing in the country is one of the reasons why the reform was proposed, as several representatives believe it is essential to regulate the activity and better educate consumers on the use credit card loans.

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