Following the entry into force of the Usury Law, the Central Bank published the maximum annual interest rates, which for credit operations in colons amount to 37.69% and 30.36% in dollars.
The law that was published on June 20, 2020 establishes the methodology to be used to set the maximum interest rate, and stipulates that the Central Bank of Costa Rica must publish on its website and on The Gazette, the maximum usury rates in the first week of January and July each year.
Setting a maximum usury rate and preventing clients from getting into debt to the extent of reducing their income below the minimum wage line are some of the changes that have arisen due to the application of the new law that has been in force since June 20.
On June 20, 2020 the Usury Law was published in the scope number 150 to La Gaceta number 147, which establishes the methodology to be used to set the maximum interest rate, from which the crime of usury will be considered to exist, details an official statement.
In order to help cooperatives, cope with the emergency caused by the spread of covid-19, the National Institute for Cooperative Development agreed to reduce the interest rate on loans.
This decision was taken to support the cooperative sector, especially the agricultural sector, which has been suffering from a variety of effects. The authorities also hope to make a significant contribution to the country, in the context of the current epidemiological situation, reported the National Institute for Cooperative Development (INFOCOOP).
In Costa Rica, a law initiative under discussion seeks to set caps on interest rates on loans, a measure that could lead to a reduction in the offer of credit for debtors classified as higher risk.
As part of a bill being discussed in the Legislative Assembly, the heads of the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) and the General Superintendence of Financial Entities (Sugef) were asked to give their views on the content of the proposal.
Although The Central Bank has been reducing the monetary policy rate to boost the issuance of bank credit, the speed with which the portfolio of loans in national currency grows continues to decrease.
Official data from the country's financial system indicate that by October 2017 the portfolio of loans in local currency grew to 14%, in the same month of 2018 the rate fell to 6% and by the tenth month of 2019 the increase was just 4%.
Favorable financing conditions for the purchase of this type of vehicle and lower rates for freight services are part of the actions proposed by the government of Costa Rica to boost sales of electric vehicles.
The state-owned Banco Popular, Banco Nacional and Banco de Costa Rica are the financial entities that will offer attractive conditions in their credit lines for the purchase of electric transportation units.
After last week in Costa Rica the rate rose to 6.65%, a level that had not been recorded since August 2015, on July 10 abruptly decreased to 6%.
Data published by the Central Bank of Costa Rica on Wednesday afternoon, July 10, show that the Basic Passive Rate (PBS) decreased by 0.65%, and will remain at 6% until next July 17.
The basic passive rate is an average of the collection rates in colones of financial institutions with terms of 150 to 210 days.
Because savers in Costa Rica have moved their resources to longer terms, to avoid an increase in income tax, the Basic Passive Rate rose to 6.65%, a level not recorded since August 2015.
According to data published by the Central Bank of Costa Rica on Wednesday afternoon, July 3, the Basic Passive Rate (BPR) reports levels not reached since August 26, 2015, and will remain at 6.65% until next July 10.
The Costa Rican banking sector opposes such a measure, arguing that imposing an upper cap on interest rates on bank loans would cause informality in the credit market.
The 20.861 reform of the competition promotion and effective consumer defense, which aims to cap credit interest rates, is discussed with the country's Tax Affairs Commission.
Regarding the establishment of a rate cap, Ronulfo Jiménez, legal advisor to the Costa Rican Banking Association, said during the hearing that "... these initiatives are not retroactive, leaving the population with over-indebtedness in that condition, therefore, denies that this will benefit the consumer."
Because of the adjustments made by the Central Bank to interest rates in recent days, financial institutions in Costa Rica will be forced to raise interest rates on savings in local currency.
Arguing that forecasts suggest that inflation in 2019 could be above the upper limit of the target range, on November 1st the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) decided to raise the monetary policy rate from 5% to 5.25%.
The Passive Base Rate fell from 6% to 5.9%, while the Effective Rate in Dollars also fell, from 2.29% to 2.11%.
The Central Bank of Costa Rica published on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 4, after not having registered any movement the previous week, news that the Passive Base Rate fell by 0.10%, and will remain at 5.90% until next Wednesday, April 11.[GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Entities have already registered increases in rates for loans and investments in local currency, adjusting to the increases that the Central Bank has made in the monetary policy rate and the rate for electronic deposits.
The increase has occurred in a generalized way in most of the interest rates offered by banks and financial institutions for loans and deposits in colones, days after the Central Bank raised the rate for deposits made through its electronic platform.
The passive base rate rose from 4.50% to 4.60%, while the effective rate in dollars rose from 1.93% to 2.11%.
BancoCentral deCosta Ricareleased news on Wednesday afternoon on November 23 that the passive base rate rose by 0.10%, meaning that the rate will remain at 4.60% until Wednesday November 30.
The passive base rate in colones fell from 4.80% to a record low of 4.70%, while the effective tax rate in dollars dropped from 1.98% to 1.91%.
The Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) released late on Wednesday September 21, news that the passive base rate will stand at 4.70%, until Wednesday September 28. This is its lowest value so far this year.
The Central Bank of Costa Rica has started publishing the effective rate in dollars, which is a weighted average of the gross interest rates given for term deposits.
Calculation of the Effective Rate in Dollars
Week of 05/05/2016 to 11/05/2016
Public banks: Relative Weight: 0.4338 - Average Rate: 1.6084
Private Banks: Relative Weight: 0,5662- Average rate: 2.1677