Bank credit
in Central America
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Improved grain prices encouraged banks to increase their loan portfolio for coffee production to about $56 million.
The bank approved $56 million for coffee planting in El Salvador between January and November 2011, 29.8% more than the same period in 2010 ($43.24 million), revealed the Superintendency of the Financial System (SSF).
Monday, January 30, 2012
The Agricultural Development Bank (BFA) has opened a line of credit to help participation in the tenth edition of the Cup of Excellence.
The Agricultural Development Bank (BFA) is opening a line of credit for small farmers, a new feature for this year's tenth Cup of Excellence event, announced the Salvadoran Coffee Council (CSC in Spanish).
"Through this initiative, which will facilitate the entry of more participants, it is expected that at least 250 farms will submit samples, from 26th to March 30th," reports ElMundo.com.sv. "This line is to help small coffee producers to also be able to support the time required for the tournament," said Ana Elena Escalante, executive director of the CSC.
Monday, January 30, 2012
The IDB has provided a $2 million credit line to ProCredit Bank SA for a program of credit and technical assistance for community water projects.
A press release from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reads:
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will help to expand and improve access to clean and affordable water to poor communities in El Salvador with a loan of U.S. $2 million to ProCredit Bank SA for a program of credit and technical assistance for community water projects.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Association of Banks of Guatemala has announced the availability of $2.5 billion for loans for production within an optimistic economic outlook.
In light of the private sector’s optimism created by the assumption of a new government and the expectation of more foreign investment, the AGB has said that there will be credit growth in 2012.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
From January 19th with the entry into force of the law to encourage development the Banco Multisectorial de Inversiones (Multisectoral Investment Bank) will operate as Banco de Desarrollo, (Development Bank or BDES).
The bank can then direct lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). At the moment it can only do so through lines opened by private banks.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
On January 11, 2012 the Law on Promotion and Regulation of Microfinancers comes into force.
From 2009 up to 2011 the global financial crisis and the local crisis has negatively affected the microfinance sector, which has generated successive losses.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Between November 2010 and November 2011 loan grants have risen by 14%.
The boom being seen in Guatemala’s economy is one of the main reasons explaining the rise in private sector credit, a key indicator of the state of an economy.
In Guatemala’s case, loans granted by financial entities have grown by 14% this year, driven not only by economic growth but also by the interest rate structure which favors debtors.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Costa Rican banking sector is not predicting strong growth in credit placement for next year.
According to Jimmy Hernandez, manager of Cathay Bank, it will be a year of "great caution" for the industry, not exceeding 10% growth in credit placement.
When meeting with the press the executive said that "...2012 will not be the same as 2011 and that growth in credit placement could reach a maximum of 10%, i.e.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
With the implementation of the statute of limitations, more than 1.6 million records have already been wiped.
Two years ago the Panamanian Credit Association began implementing the statute of limitations, which applies when a consumer so requests, seven years after having made the last payment on any commitments they had.
The law, enacted in 2002, states that the requirement also applies to consumers who haven’t finished paying or have not made any payments and have waited seven years.
Monday, November 28, 2011
As a consequence of the boom in the Panamanian economy, the domestic credit portfolio has accumulated 14.5% growth so far in 2011.
When an economy grows the way Panama is doing, private sector credit becomes a dynamic engine that propels it even more.
At the end of the third quarter, the private sector’s credit portfolio has grown by 15% compared to the same period in 2010.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Lafise-Bancentro has launched a financing plan with low-interest credits aimed at the cattle farming sector.
Loans from $1 million up to $5 million will be available, depending on recipients' ability to repay at an interest rate of 8.5%.
Monday, October 31, 2011
In September the total amount of loans to large companies increased by 7.04%, compared to the same period in 2010.
Regarding the data from the Superintendency of Banks (SB), an analyst from the Association for Research and Social Studies (ASIES in Spanish), Ruben Dario Narciso, detailed several reasons that have lead to the increase.
Monday, October 24, 2011
The International Banking Center notes a dynamic expansion of the internal loan portfolio to 20.5%, and the same can be said for the portfolio investments, up 14.7% during the month of August.
A press release from the Superintendency of Banks of Panama reads:
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The amount in loans made in the first nine months of the year, $2,900 million, reflects greater economic dynamism in the country.
According to the Superintendency of Banks (SIB), these types of loans currently represent 26% of the entire banking portfolio.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Department of Taxation in Costa Rica will send a list of tax defaulters to banks every month.
Francisco Villalobos, director of the entity, said that both banks and credit bureaus are not required to incorporate this information into their systems.