At a regional level, nearly 16 million people are looking to purchase financial services online. Of this group of consumers, approximately 11% are exploring options for acquiring a credit card.
The interactive information system developed by CentralAmericaData, monitors in real time the changes in consumer habits in all markets of the region, with fundamental information to understand the new commercial environment that has emerged in an accelerated manner.
After closing 2016 with a 37% drop in profits, financial companies expect to achieve better results diversifying their services in an increasingly competitive market.
The total profits generated by financial companies in 2016 barely exceeded $2.4 million, a decrease of 37% compared to earnings in 2015.This year companies in the sector projected better results, some on them betting on the SME segment, some focusing on generating new business in the construction sector and others expanding their offering of services.
Iconi Holding and Intermarket are the companies that the Securities Regulator has warned not have support or supervision in the country.
The Superintendency of Securities (Sugeval) has updated the list of unsupervised and unregulated entities for which reports have been received of possible unauthorized securities offerings, which could even be fraudulent.
The microcredit portfolio in Latin America and the Caribbean is worth over $40 billion, is awarded by more than 1,000 institutions, and reaches more than 22 million customers.
From a statement issued by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB):
A new report documents significant expansion of microcredit in Latin America and the Caribbean
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador - Microcredit in Latin America and the Caribbean remains strong and continues its expansion of the last decade, experiencing an increase in their number of customers, a variety of institutions and a downward trend in interest rates according to new data released here today by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the IDB Group.
The BCIE has granted an additional $3 million to Desyfin's global credit line, meaning that the total amount it now has reaches $10 million.
With this money Desyfin will finance "programs to support micro, small and medium enterprises, financial intermediation programs for social housing, the housing and urban improvement program, and factoring products for suppliers," explains Nacion.com.
Central American financial institutions are offering their customers new financing alternatives.
The firm Invermaster has indicated that some seventy banks have $500 million to invest in companies in the region.
"One alternative that has gained importance, according to Invermaster, is 'mezzanine financing', an intermediate instrument between traditional debt and equity investment.
International creditors, headed by the BCIE, have frozen the funds earmarked for microfinance institutions in Nicaragua.
The frozen funds amount to about $30 million, representing 20% of the total portfolio balance of microfinancers belonging to the Nicaraguan Association of Microfinance Institutions, ASOMIF.
"According the president of ASOMIF, Rene Romero, the effects of the global financial crisis and the ‘No-Pago’ (Non-Payment) Movement are weighing on the country's microfinance system, so much so that international creditors are waiting for Nicaraguan institutions to improve their internal indicators before going ahead with disbursements", reported Elnuevodiario.com.ni
The loan will be used to finance the "programs to strengthen the financial safety net and improving access to financing."
The IDB representative in Honduras, Miguel Manzi, at the signing ceremony said the purpose of the Inter-American Development Bank is to support the government in a program for financial reforms and institutional changes in the sector.