Following the approval of the Bitcoin Law in El Salvador by the members of the Legislative Assembly, which creates a legal framework that recognizes this digital currency as legal tender in the country, the IMF warns that financial and legal risks have arisen.
The current business scenario ended up breaking down several barriers, and now there are more customers who demand the online services of financial institutions, which are challenged to facilitate digital processes and in turn apply strict security standards.
In the last four months, in most Central American cities, bank clients have moved away from the bank's service points, because between the home quarantines decreed due to the spread of covid-19 and the preference to avoid attending places where large numbers of people can congregate, consumers are choosing to look for ways to carry out transactions digitally.
The coronavirus has left an economic impact in several countries. For this reason, some governments are developing exceptional measures to mitigate its effects. For example, the suspension of tax and mortgage payments to lessen the economic pressure on small businesses and households.
In the United States, interest rates were reduced to almost zero and a US$700 billion stimulus program was launched in a bid to protect its economy, says Mario Miranda, director of finance at MonederoSMART.
In 2017, bank deposits totaled $11,715 million, 10% more than the figure registered at the end of 2016.
The "Financial Bulletin of the Banking System up to December 2017", prepared by the Salvadoran Banking Association, states that "... in the last five years, deposits have had average growth of 4.3%."
As of June, 883 correspondents in El Salvador were registered in El Salvador, with a total of $128 million in transactions.
Most of the transactions reported by correspondents, which include shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, or natural persons, correspond to credit card and collector payments.These two types of transactions alone accounted for almost 70% of the transactions reported by correspondents up to November 2016.
The union reports that in 2016 profits fell by 11% compared to 2015, mainly due to funding abroad becoming more expensive and payment of the tax for security.
The Salvadoran Banking Association (Abansa) has reported that in 2016 banking system profits were $139.9 million, less than the $155.8 million generated in the previous year.
Fitch Ratings predicts headwinds and higher risks for banks in Central American countries in 2016, resulting in lower credit growth.
From a report by Fitch Ratings Central America:
Headwind: Central American Banking systems face greater risks in 2016. A slowdown in growth of gross domestic product (GDP) in the region and, consequently, lower credit growth is anticipated.
A proposal has been made to eliminate the tax on financial operations and lower from 20% to 5% income tax paid by foreign investors in the stock market.
The reform which was carried out in September 2014 on the taxes charged on transactions in the financial market has affected market activity, say industry representatives. Carlos Araujo, president of Banco Azul, said that "the tax has had a direct impact on the decline in bank deposits; However, the main reason could be the country's economic situation.'"
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.
Analysis by Fitch Ratings projects that banks in the region will maintain strong balance sheets and have stable profitability in 2014.
Excerpted from Fitch Ratings:
Differential Growth and Opportunities: Low financial depth, in most systems, continues to provide significant opportunities for expansion of bank balance sheets; although this is limited by low average income levels.
Market actors in El Salvador claim that transactions are being subjected to double retention, both by brokerage firms and the bank related to it.
Because of the speed with which the financial sector has been forced to comply with the withholding tax on financial transactions, effective from September 1st this year, the same market participants are claiming that investors are suffering because they are being billed the tax twice on each transaction.
Although the banks had sought to extend the term, starting September 1 entities must charge 0,25% on operations over $1000.
From September 1 banks, credit unions and savings and loans companies must withhold 0.25% for every transaction in made in cash, by check or electronically worth over $1,000.
The Directorate General of Internal Revenue, at the Ministry of Finance has published the regulations that refer to the new taxes.
The banking sector has requested a period of 6 months before starting the process of withholding tax on financial transactions as approved during a recent tax reform.
The Salvadoran Banking Association (Abansa) requested an extension of 6 months for the start date for collections of the tax on financial transactions, pushing it back to February 2015 instead of 1 September, as planned by the government.
A potential tax on financial transactions would discourage investment in the stock market as securities would be taxed each time they are traded.
In light of a tax proposal that would tax at 0.25% per $750 all kinds of securities, including repos and securitizations, the Stock Exchange of El Salvador (BVES) has expressed its concern for contracts already traded on the market and its dampening effect on investment.