The Central American Bank for Economic Integration approved a line of credit that the government will use to finance programs in the education, health, housing and road infrastructure sectors.
The loan is aimed at the Multisectoral Program for Economic Reactivation and Social Protection (NIC-Solidaria), which aims to initially support at least 41 projects and programs of public investment, production and social assistance, reported the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI).
The Inter-American Development Bank approved two lines of credit for El Salvador, whose funds will be used for programs to improve the quality and coverage of education, and to promote productive activity through business and housing loans.
The first line of credit, amounting to $300 million, will support the expansion and improvement of the quality of education in the country, with a special focus on early childhood and vulnerable populations, sustainability, and the economic recovery of SMEs affected by the Covid-19.
The Monetary Board approved the changes to the Credit Risk Regulations, which were proposed by the Superintendence of Banks and seek to simplify the requirements for loans not exceeding $160,000.
In this scenario of economic crisis resulting from the outbreak of covid-19, the objective of the endorsed modifications is to favor SMEs and individuals to gain access to credit lines offered by commercial banks.
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.
After the law seeking to regulate the credit card market in Guatemala was declared unconstitutional, a new proposal was presented.
The Credit Card Law that was declared unconstitutional at the beginning of 2019, entered into force on March 8, 2016, however, after the business chambers, card issuers and the Bank of Guatemala filed legal appeals before the Constitutional Court (CC), was suspended on March 31 of that year.
After 14 appeals filed, the Guatemalan Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the law that attempted to regulate the credit card market in the country.
The Credit Card Law became effective on March 8th, 2016, however, after the business chambers, card issuers and the Bank of Guatemala filed legal appeals before the Constitutional Court (CC), it was provisionally suspended on March 31st of the same year.
Mortgage and personal loans continue to be responsible for much of the 5% increase in domestic credit to the private sector, recorded between June 2017 and the same month in 2018.
According to the latest report by the Superintendency of Banks, in the sixth month of the year the credit portfolio of the private sector totaled $52.311 billion, which is equivalent to an increase of 5.4% compared to the $49.609 billion reported as of June 2017.
At the end of May of this year, the country reported just over 805,000 cards in circulation, 2% less than was reported in the same month in 2017.
The decrease recorded in the fifth month of this year is due to the behavior of the number of cards circulating in the market of Banco Financiera Comercial Hondureña market, since the units corresponding to this financial entity fell from 235,008 in May 2017 to 207,636 reported in the same month in 2018.
Mortgages and personal loans explained much of the 6% increase in domestic credit to the private sector, recorded between May 2017 and the same month in 2018.
According to the latest report by the Superintendency of Banks, in the fifth month of the year, the private sector's credit portfolio totaled $52.167 billion, which is equivalent to an increase of 5.9% compared to the $49.277 billion reported up to May 2017.
At the end of April of this year, the loan portfolio granted by banks amounted to $12.582 billion, registering a 13% increase compared to the same period last year.
According to figures from the National Commission of Banks and Insurance (CNBS), between the month of April 2017 and the same period in 2018, the loan portfolio grew by $1.433 billion, rising from $11.149 billion to $12.582 billion.
Up to May 2018, credit granted by Guatemalan banks to the private sector totaled $25.725 billion, 4% more than was reported in the same month in 2017.
According to figures from Banco de Guatemala, credit to the private sector up to May 2018 grew by 4.1% compared to the same month in 2017, rising from $24.611 billion to $25.725 billion.This increase was below the 8% increase recorded between the same months of 2016 and 2017.
During January in Nicaragua, the gross portfolio of the financial system totaled $5.371 billion, 14% more than in the same month in 2017, explained in part by the performance of commercial credit.
The Central Bank of Nicaragua reported that "...The sectors with the highest representation in the portfolio are commercial credit and personal loans, with both sectors accounting for 55.4 percent of the total portfolio. On the other hand, the portfolio at risk and the past due portfolio continue to register levels below the rest of the Central America, Dominican Republic and Panama (CAPARD) region."
Over the past year, the gross portfolio of the financial system totaled $5.323 billion, 14% more than in 2016, explained in part by the performance of commercial credit.
Regarding the activities financed, the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) reported that at the end of 2017 "... commercial credit and personal loans remained the most representative, with both sectors adding up to 55.4 percent of the total portfolio. These sectors showed year-on-year growth of 10.6 and 12.1 percent, respectively."
Due to an increase in commercial credit and personal loans, the gross portfolio totaled $5.480 billion up to November 2017, 15% more than in the same month in 2016.
According to a Report on the Performance of the National Financial System, published by the Central Bank of Nicaragua in November 2017, the financial system increased its financial assets by 16%, while the credit portfolio grew by 15%, both in year-on-year terms.
The government has announced a credit line of $7.4 million for the production of sheep, at an interest rate of 7.25%.
The Ministry of Economic Development (SDE) reported that a credit line of L167 million ($7.4 million) is now available for sheep production. The announcement was confirmed by Arnaldo Castillo, head of the institution, reported Laprensa.hn.