From June 2017 to May 2018, the average default rate of the Costa Rican financial system's credit portfolio increased from 1.36% to 2.14%.
Thursday, June 21, 2018
According to figures from the General Superintendence of Financial Institutions (Sugef), between April and May of this year, Banco Nacional de Costa Rica (BNCR) saw an increased in its arrears of greater than 90 days and judicial collection from 2.65% to 4.18%, thus surpassing the 3% that is established as the prudent maximum limit.
The increase in the defaults at the BNCR exceeds the average default reported in the last year by the same institution, as between May 2017 and April 2018, the entity recorded an average of 2.34%.
According to data from the Sugef, the National Financial System also showed an increase in the average of the default indicator between April and May of this year, going from 2.06% to 2.14%.
In the last two years, non-performing loans to the agricultural sector increased from 2.4% to 5.9% between April 2017 and the same month in 2019.
Figures from the General Superintendence of Financial Entities (Sugef) indicate that the increase reported in the arrears of agricultural loans includes operations with delays of more than 90 days, as well as operations that are in judicial collection.
In Costa Rica, low economic activity and rising unemployment explain the 25% increase reported between February 2018 and the same month of 2019 in the value of assets acquired by banks to recover loans.
Figures from the General Superintendence of Financial Entities (Sugef) specify that between February 2018 and the same month of this year, the amount of goods and securities acquired by financial entities because people and companies did not pay their loans increased from $425 million to $533 million.
From July 2017 to September 2018, the percentage of loans in dollars with payment arrears over 90 days or in legal collection increased from 1.57% to 2.95%.
The default on dollar loans is still under 3%, which is still considered normal. However, according to the trend reported in recent months in the records of the General Superintendence of Financial Entities (Sugef), the indicator is likely to exceed the 3% barrier.
The deterioration of the economy and rising unemployment are the main reasons behind the difficulties faced by companies and individuals in Costa Rica in paying back their bank loans.
According to figures from the General Superintendence of Financial Entities, between January 2017 and July 2018, the percentage of loans in defaults for more than 90 days or in judicial collection, went from 1.65% to 2.51%, showing an upward trend in recent months.