Slow growth is projected in El Salvador, very good performance in Nicaragua, stability in Panama, more competition in Guatemala and moderate growth in Costa Rica.
From a report by Fitch Ratings entitled "2015 Perspectives: Central American Banks":
Costa Rica:
Fitch Ratings has revised the outlook for the sector from positive to stable, because the agency does not anticipate substantial improvements in respect to the previous year.
Despite pointing out several errors in the text which make the system impractical, the Legislative Assembly has given final approval to the proposed reforms, while they prepare further amendments.
Reform to the Banking System for Development has been approved, however, "... There are gaps that will make the plan unworkable and ineffective, if it is ever to become law ...
A proposal has been made to create a program within the Banking Development System to allow tourism enterprises to readjust their debts with banks.
If the bill introduced in Congress thrives, a group composed of representatives from the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism, the Banking Development System and the Ministry of Planning (Mideplan) would analyze each case and determine which companies could opt for restructuring.
The bureaucratic requirements contained in a bill advancing in Congress would continue to hamper access to credit for entrepreneurs.
A few days ago Congress ruled on the Law for Strengthening Development Banking, under which sureties are not required, interest would be low and deadlines for payment would be longer. However, among other things, entrepreneurs who wish to take out a loan would be required to take a training course at the National Training Institute (INA by its initials in Spanish) in order to get a certificate which would allow them to make the appropriate application.
The idea that the Central Bank of Costa Rica be a fund manager for the Development Bank has been rejected by its President Rodrigo Bolaños.
An article in Nacion.com notes that the strange idea originated in the office of the second vice president of Costa Rica, Luis Liberman, where it probably passed by the Economy Minister Mayi Antillon, who most likely presented it at the Development Bank Commission of the Legislature.
The intention would be to overcome the paralysis of $320 million from the Development Banking System of Costa Rica by giving over its management to the central bank.
The fund consists of 17% of current accounts of commercial banks in Costa Rica, known as the "bank toll" amounting to $320 million which is supposed to be used to grant loans to micro-entrepreneurs, within the Development Banking System.
The bill would request the transfer of a mandatory 5% of state and private bank profits to the Development Bank System.
The contributions would be for five years and in addition to the requirement established by existing law for banks to use 5% of their profits to create a fund to grant loans for development.
Reporter Marvin Barquero wrote for the Nacion website: "The amended law also seeks to distribute the funds of the so-called “banking toll” (17% of current accounts captured by state and private banks) among the state three banks. It is a total of about $320 million and the law states that it should only be administered by the Cartago Agricultural Credit Bank (Bancrédito)."