With an investment of $220 million the Rural Development Bank of Guatemala plans to start operations in Honduras in May 2013.
The announcement of the expansion of the bank towards its neighboring country came amidst the celebration of the General Assembly of Shareholders of the Bank for Rural Development.
"The Commission has already granted approval to enter the Honduran market.
To date, about 8 banks in Guatemala, 4 in El Salvador and 3 in Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica offer the service; there is still much ground to cover in the region.
The director of Technology at the company Ebclosión, Derick Brol, indicates that in Central America in 2011 there were mobile phone banking services in about 8 banks in Guatemala, 4 in El Salvador and 3 in Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
The Rural Development Bank plans to open 21 branches in Honduras, investing $40 million.
Guatemalan banks are expanding into Central America. This time it is the Banrural, which has plans to open 21 branches in Honduras after obtaining permission from the authorities.
"The two largest banks in Guatemala have crossed the border and are competing for the Central American financial market, setting up operations in El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama; now they are being joined by the Rural Development Bank (Banrural) which has decided to enter Honduras and in the long term is also interested in expanding into El Salvador", reports ElPeriodico.com.
The touristic development, to be located in the Tela Bay, finally landed funding from 5 financial institutions.
Ficohsa, BAC Honduras, Ficensa, Guatemala's "Banco de Desarrollo Rural" and Panama's "Banco Pichincha" approved a $24 million structured credit to fund this initiative.
Javier Atala, manager of Ficohsa Bank, noted that this project will contribute to the tourism industry and will help promote Honduras as one of Central America's leading tourist destinations.