Arguing that it does not comply with the standards on transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes, the OECD evaluated Guatemala negatively and recommended working on direct access to taxpayers' banking information.
As planned, following the temporary suspension by the Constitutional Court (CC) of the article of law facilitating access to taxpayers' bank information, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) decided to include Guatemala in the list of countries that do not comply with their fiscal information commitments.
On February 14th and 15th, representatives of banks, international financial institutions and risk rating agencies will meet in Panama City to discuss issues related to the sector.
The event called "International Banking Congress for Regulators & Bankers," will be organized by the Superintendence of Banks of Panama (SBP) and seeks to address issues such as Basel III, prevention of money laundering, de-risking, new risks facing the industry, financial innovation-Fintech, cybersecurity, among others.
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.
For this year, growth in banking credit to the private sector is projected at between 6% and 9%, but the year-on-year increase registered up to March was only 4%.
Figures from Banco de Guatemala show that during the year 2017 credit to the private sector grew at a monthly average of 5.17%, and the lowest increases were reported in November and December when the amount increased compared to the same months of 2016 by 4.9% and 3.8% respectively.
Banco de Antigua has announced the acquisition of the microcredit portfolio of the G & T Continental entity, which will continue to focus on consumer and corporate areas.
G & T Continental Bank reported that the operation is due to a restructuring process to meet the new technological trends in the financial market.
If the reforms to the Banking Law that are being discussed in the Congress are approved, cooperatives will have to start reporting information in their loan portfolios.
Legal initiative number 5157which is pending final approval, proposes, among other changes, including in the Credit Registration Information System (SIRC by its initials in Spanish) information from financial institutions that are not yet sending reports.
The financial group G & T Continental has obtained a general license to expand the services it provides in Panama, where it plans to strengthen its corporate and private banking area.
The financial institution started operations in Panama in July 2008 under the name of Banco Financia, S.A. (BMF) and in 2009 changed its name to Banco G & T Continental (Panamá) S.A.
At the end of August of this year, the default rate in the loan portfolio of the national financial system was 2.54%, higher than the 1.21% rate recorded four years ago.
Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "...When comparing payment delays between 2013 and 2017, the segment with the highest rate is that of small companies, made up of small and medium-sized companies, which went from 3.32% to 7.92%.
A concentrated banking system with weak capital indicators faces the challenge of reducing past-due loans, which in large banks have grown from an average of 1.1% in 2013 to 2.3% this year.
From a report by Fitch Ratings:
Loan Performance Adequate but Impaired:The behavior of loans has been affected in the last 4 years; in the second half of 2017 (2Q17), non-performing loans (arrears of greater than 90 days) for the largest banks averaged 2.3%, from 1.1% in 2013. In general, this trend was due to the fact that the default of some large creditors from different sectors affected the banking system, as well as the gradual increase in consumer loans. The temporarily established credit card law, which limited interest rates and collection practices in 2016, did not have an immediate impact. Current indicators are adequate.
The decrease in the granting of credits to the business sector has been attributed to legal uncertainty caused by the case of the hydroelectric stations Oxec I and II.
Datafrom the Bank of Guatemala indicates that as of April 27, the balance of credit granted by the banking system to the private sector amounted to $24 billion, 5.6% more than in the same period in the previous year, but only 0.4% more than in December of last year. In the case of OffShore entities, the figures indicate that loans granted by these institutions up to April 20 totalled $1860 million, recording a year-on-year change of -1.5% and -4.2% compared to December 2016.
Fitch foresees returns for Nicaraguan banks, however the result will not be as good for the banking industry in Panama, Guatemala or El Salvador.
From Fitch's report "2017 Outlook: Central American and Dominican Republic Banks"
The 2017 Central American bank rating outlook is stable for 2017, reflecting slight changes in growth and financial performance, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. The evolution of some factors, such as interest rates and private investment, or the emergence of events that could increase reputation risk could alter the banking outlook.Stable Rating Outlook: The ratings of most banks in the region have a stable outlook, reflecting the fact that their credit profile will not undergo significant changes in Fitch's base scenario.Movements in the ratings will be derived mainly from adjustments in ratings of parent banks or sovereign ratings, or of unanticipated events.
Moody's warns of the risks faced by banks in Central America in the context of a rising trend in interest rates and dollarization of their loan portfolios.
From a report by Moody's:
Mexico, September 14, 2016 -- Banks in Central America face rising asset risks as interest rates look set to rise in the region, pushing up debt service costs for borrowers, according to a report from Moody's Investors Service.
A bill being promoted by the executive branch seeks to authorize the Bank of Guatemala to finance the capitalization of a bank when it faces problems affecting financial stability.
The aim of this initiative is to adapt the rules on financial supervision and risk control to international standards, to prevent the stability of the domestic financial system from being affected when a bank has liquidity or solvency problems.
On October 12 and 13 representatives from the banking and financial sector will be gathering together in Panama City to discuss issues relating to regulation, business and investment.
The International Finance Summit is an event being organized by the Banking Association of Panama and will be held at the Hotel Trump Ocean Club Convention Center.
Fitch Ratings notes that the Guatemalan banking system reports one of the lowest rates of delinquency in the region.
From the report 'Panorama of Guatemalan Banks' by Fitch Ratings:
Local Majority Banking System: The largest banks (70% of loans in the system) belong to local shareholders. At the same time, foreign-owned banks increased their share after Bancolombia acquired the controlling stake in Banco Agromercantil de Guatemala, S.A. (BAM).