The Microfinance Foundation of the Spanish bank BBVA has teamed up with the Authority for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Panama to promote the use of financial products from these companies.

The purpose of the alliance is to bring these products to companies that usually have no access to banking services. Part of the agreement includes training banking executives to enable them to advise small businesses.

In addition, workshops will be provided for businesses, so that they can be informed about the features and benefits that these types of financial products provide.

More on this topic

Microcredit Grows in Guatemala

April 2012

Between 2010 and 2011 the microfinance portfolio increased by 23%, going from $84 million to $104 million, averaging $529 per loan.

From the Journal of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala:

Microfinance institutions in Guatemala maintain a dynamic support for the development and growth of thousands of micro and small businesses around the country, especially in rural areas.

Guatemala Needs Standards for Microfinance

January 2011

A law regulating the microfinance market would open the opportunity to capture savings that currently can only be done through cooperatives and banks.

The article by Byron Dardón in Capital.com.pa, reports that the bill on microfinance is expected this year and has the support of the Financial Inclusion Program of the Treasury of the United States, which promotes the adoption in Latin American countries of market governing rules.

Nicaragua's Country Risk Affects Micro-financing

August 2010

The "No Payment" movement is scaring US and European investors, threatening the arrival of $70 million worth of funds for micro finance companies.

"In the last Central American Microfinance Conference the challenges and opportunities faced by the sector were discussed and the Guatemalan moderator, Reynold Walter, concluded by highlighting that governments should discourage 'no payment' movements, which received a round of applause from the attendees.

Micro-finance is booming in Nicaragua

July 2008

Micro-finance has grown rapidly in Nicaragua over the last decade. Between the end of 1999 and the end of last year, the total micro-credit portfolio grew at an average 19.4 percent a year, while the number of clients grew by 25 percent a year, according to industry statistics.

Most of the loans have been made to small farmers and artisans who are usually unable to borrow money from the commercial banks.