The new law on security interests promises small and medium-sized companies quick access to credit lines, as it simplifies procedures for constituting and executing guarantees.
Last week the Congress of the Republic,approved amendments to the Law on Secured Transactionsthat has existed since 2007 to facilitate access to bank loans. With the modifications, any transaction that has the effect of guaranteeing an obligation of the debtor with the creditor is typified as a security interest.
The law passed by the Legislature allows companies to use their personal property as collateral to take out productive loans.
From a statement issued by the National Assembly of Nicaragua:
During the plenary session on October 5, the National Assembly approved in general the Secured Transactions Law, a legal instrument to promote access to credit for micro, small and medium enterprises by putting up any movable goods used in their daily work as collateral.
Starting from May 15 organizations can use inventories, cash flows, patents and other things as collateral for bank loans.
The regulations for the Law on Secured Transactions are now ready and the law will take effect on May 15, and from that date, companies will be able to put up crops, agricultural machinery, copyrights, among other things, as collateral for the purpose of obtaining bank loans.
The new law will allow lenders to accept personal property as a guarantee for loans.
The head of the Honduran Association of Banking Institutions (AHIBA), María Lidia Solano, told Latribuna.hn that, "movable guarantees are an instrument that can be used to give small and medium sized producers access to credit".
In order to use personal property as a guarantee for a loan it must be registered with the Chamber of Commerce, which will provide a certificate.
A law project will enable creditors to accept movables as collateral for loans.
Juan José Lagos, micro-credit expert, explained that machinery, work accessories, accounts receivable and intellectual property could be used as collateral when soliciting credit.
Lagos also said: "The law will ease the guarantee problem for people, as currently creditors only accept real estate, like houses and lots, as collateral".
SMEs in Costa Rica can receive guarantee backed funds for viable projects.
The Development Fund for Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (Fodemipyme) gave guarantees and assurances to six cooperatives and one bank for $8.5 million. These guarantees will be used by the institutions to cover up to 75% of each loan request after having evaluated the feasibility of the project for which the funds are requested.