Government and municipal entities can leverage location intelligence to optimize strategic planning, improve the quality of public services and optimize their budgets.
What type of solutions does location intelligence provide to governments
Analytics through big data management techniques allows governments to understand the needs of their citizens, combat fraud, minimize system errors and improve operations, reducing costs and improving the services of any government entity.
Foot traffic analytics through geospatial data and Big Data enables governments and public sector organizations to deliver more efficient and secure services, as well as respond more quickly and accurately to the needs of customers and citizens.
The coronavirus has left an economic impact in several countries. For this reason, some governments are developing exceptional measures to mitigate its effects. For example, the suspension of tax and mortgage payments to lessen the economic pressure on small businesses and households.
In the United States, interest rates were reduced to almost zero and a US$700 billion stimulus program was launched in a bid to protect its economy, says Mario Miranda, director of finance at MonederoSMART.
The state bank will stop performing financial intermediation activities and, despite proof of its inefficiency, will be converted into a promotion and development bank.
From a statement issued by the President of Costa Rica:
The Governing Council, meeting at a shareholders meeting at Banco Crédito Agrícola de Cartago (Bancrédito), decided to accelerate the transformation of that entity into a promotion and development bank, by executing a plan that would allow the entity to gradually cease to perform financial intermediation activities before December 31, 2017.
While financial regulators want to increase the quality of banks' management with better qualified managers, a bill intends to reduce the demands of professionalism for a "popular" bank.
The intention of six members in reforming the Organic Law of the People's Bank (Banco Popular) and Community Development (BPCD) is to increase control of the union on the bank's management which is "...
The criticism attracted by the latest "commercial" venture by the State Bank of Costa Rica should not stick to just the surface of the fairytale castle and pink marketing campaign, but should go to the heart of the concept of state banks, which today have degenerated into simple banking institutions with commercial privileges.
EDITORIAL
This is precisely what Sebastian Hernandez does in his lucid analysis of the launch of the new brand Banca Kristal in new branches of Banco de Costa Rica, an exclusive service for women, and one which is painted pink.
The speed with which the granting of bank loans is growing in the country went from a rate of 16% in March 2014 to 8% in the same month this year.
Elfinancierocr.com reports that "... Dollar loans by state banks are showing the most dramatic fall. Over a year ago they were growing at a buoyant pace by 36%, and within months, it has come down to a decrease of 2%.
The scare liquidity of colones explains the lower growth of loans in this currency, while credit growth in dollars continues to lose strength.
Added to the diminished liquidity in colones putting downward pressure on credit growth in that currency, is uncertainty at enterprise-level over recent changes in the exchange rate and lower credit demand for real estate projects, power generation and tourism, as explained by bankers to Nacion.com.
Private banks are protesting because "the provisions contained in the banking law referring to the requirements and authorizations for the establishment and commencement of operations of commercial banks will not be applicable to Produzcamos."
In the process of starting operations, the entity is not required to comply with the rules of the General Banking Act and that of the Superintendency for Banks and Other Financial Institutions (SIBOIF).
The benchmark interest rate for investments and loans remains unchanged until at least April 23.
The Central Bank of Costa Rica reported that the passive base rate, an indicator of the average interest rates for savings given by financial institutions on maturities of 150 to 210 days will remain at the level of 6.70% until 23 April.
The passive base rate, calculated by the entity is used as a reference in most bank for loans denominated in colones in the country.
An announcement has been made for a funding line for micro, small and medium enterprises without collaterals such as mortgages, wage guarantees or financial analysis.
Using a methodology developed by Harvard University, which measures the skills, knowledge and abilities of the applicants, Costa Rica's Bancrédito bank will provide loans to small and medium enterprises.
State Banks in Costa Rica have a portfolio of over 2,300 properties from the repossessions made because of mortgage defaults.
Nacion.com reports that "... the banks, Banco Nacional, Banco de Costa Rica, Banco Popular and Bancrédito had 2,336 properties in their possession, which represents a 35% increase compared to the same period in 2012." Of that total, Banco Nacional has the largest number of foreclosed properties with 60%.
From October last year to date, public banks in Costa Rica cut their average rate by almost 4.5%.
"In the last four months state banks made a sharp rate cut to place them below the average of other intermediaries and brush with near-zero real returns", reported Nacion.com.
"The banks reduced their rates so that they are now the lowest among the sector and real returns are close to zero.
Data for January 2013 shows that the arrears in loans in the three state banks in Costa Rica are close to the maximum allowable limit.
For the Banco de Costa Rica, the arrears indicator has reached 3.14%, exceeding the ceiling imposed by the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (Sugef), of 3%.
Nacion.com reports that "The delinquency indicator of the three state banks, together, came to 3.02% last month, up from the 3% allowed by Sugef.
Managers of large Costa Rican public institutions are coordinating actions with government officials and state banks.
According to an article in Elfinancierocr.com, the meeting held on Monday 14 January is part of a consultation strategy that President Chinchilla is conducting in order to find the best way to control speculative capital inflows.
Alfredo Volio, chairman of the board of Banco Nacional, said: "The idea is to seek a reduction in interest rates, integrating the entire public sector for us to coordinate efforts."