Given the political and economic crisis affecting the country since April 2018, a scenario that has combined with the crisis of covid-19, the loan portfolio increased from $5,172 million in March 2018 to $3,404 million at the end of April 2020.
According to figures of the Superintendence of Banks and Other Financial Institutions (Siboif), in the first four months of the year a decrease in the credit portfolio is also reflected, since it went from $3.578 million reported at the closing of 2019 to $3.404 million recorded in April 2020, representing -5% variation for the four-month period in question.
The European Commission announced that the two Central American countries are on the list of nations with deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing strategies.
Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Cambodia, Ghana, Jamaica, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar/Burma, Nicaragua, Panama and Zimbabwe are the countries included in the list, the European Commission reported.
Legal or natural persons who apply for the moratorium on loan payments in Panama must prove to the banking institutions that they have been economically affected by the outbreak of covid-19 and that they cannot cancel their quotas.
The Executive and the banking sector agreed to extend until December 31st of this year the moratorium on credit payments, a measure that applies to mortgages, personal loans, the agricultural sector, commercial, transportation, auto and credit cards.
The government also reported that in the context of the covid-19 outbreak, President Cortizo sanctioned Bill 295 which adopts special social measures for the temporary suspension of payment of public services such as electricity, fixed and mobile telephony and Internet.
In recent weeks, the country's financial system has seen a considerable drop in the lending rate on new loan operations, which is partly explained by the reduction in the Monetary Policy Rate.
According to reports from the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH), between March 9 and April 10, 2020, the rate fell from 14.81% to 10.31%. This fall is being recorded in the context of the health crisis caused by the outbreak of covid-19.
Managers of Costa Rica's financial institutions predict that due to the health crisis the country is going through, the demand for credit from companies and families will continue to fall in the coming months.
Figures from the Central Bank of Costa Rica state that between March 2019 and the same month in 2020, the balance of money lent by public and private banks to companies and families decreased by 2.3%, from $28,559 million to $27,908 million. See full data (in Spanish).
This week, the Basic Passive Rate continued to fall, from 3.8% to 3.75%, while the Effective Rate in dollars also fell, from 1.94% to 1.84%.
The Central Bank of Costa Rica published on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 15 that after registering considerable drops in the previous weeks, the Basic Passive Rate fell again, in this case by 0.05% and will remain at 3.75% until next Wednesday, April 23.
The Superintendence of Banks authorized the transfer of up to 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Multibank in favor of Leasing Bogotá S.A.
Resolution SBP-0053-2020 dated March 24, 2020, explains that "... Authorizes the transfer of up to 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Multi Financial Group, INC.
In response to the country's health crisis, 15 banks have granted a 90-day extension for their customers to make their personal credit card, home mortgage, vehicle and personal loans.
Until March 31st, the financial institutions that confirmed that had granted the extension to their clients are BAC Credomatic, Banco General, Banistmo, Banco Nacional, Global Bank, Multibank, St.
Fitch Ratings agreed to change the perspective of the region's banks from stable to negative, arguing that the current health crisis will affect financial institutions in all countries.
Considering the measures that countries have adopted in the last 15 days in economic matters, following the spread of covid-19, Fitch expects that there will be a decrease in the issuance of loans.
It was agreed that debtors and financial institutions may define a new maximum payment date, in all those cases where the customer had to pay their fee during the curfew, which will be in force until April 12.
A grace period will also be granted that could be until June 30, 2020, depending on the needs of each client and the ability of the bank to maintain the necessary liquidity without receiving those payments, reported the National Commission of Banks and Insurance (CNBS).
Raising the amount of liquidity facilities for financial intermediaries by $909 million and reducing the legal reserve ratio in local currency by 0.5% are some of the measures taken by the Central Bank in response to the spread of covid-19.
Regarding the exchange market, the Central Bank was authorized to offer liquidity in dollars for $622.4 million, of which $400.0 million will be granted through Repos up to 90 days and the remaining $222.4 million will be released from legal reserve resources in foreign currency, informed the institution.
CABEI granted a loan that will be assigned to the country's state banks, resources that will be used to support the productive sectors in the context of the national emergency.
With the aim of strengthening the liquidity of state banks in the face of the national emergency caused by the covid-19 pandemic, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) authorized the disbursement of US$50 million for the Banco Nacional de Costa Rica and US$40 million for the Banco de Costa Rica, reported the international organization.
Increased demand for credit and more requests for loan restructuring is part of what the covid-19 crisis has brought to Guatemala's banking sector.
According to representatives of the Guatemalan Banking Association (ABG), the spread of covid-19 and the restrictive measures that have been decreed in the country are affecting the liquidity of companies, many of which have no income and must use credit to pay their bills.
In the last 15 days, the price per dollar in the wholesale market has risen ₡16, which can be explained by economic uncertainty and people's preference for buying dollars.
According to data from the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR), a rising trend has been reported in recent weeks. Between March 11 and 26, the price has risen from ₡565.69 to ₡581.77, equivalent to a 3% variation. See full figures (in Spanish).
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