Following the approval of the Bitcoin Law in El Salvador by the members of the Legislative Assembly, which creates a legal framework that recognizes this digital currency as legal tender in the country, the IMF warns that financial and legal risks have arisen.
The National Assembly of Panama approved in third debate a bill that regulates the service of information on the credit history of consumers.
The legislative plenary approved in third debate initiative 424, which modifies Law 24 of 2002 related to this registration system in the Panamanian Credit Association (APC), in order to create a data model or credit information that is fair and balanced between financial agents and credit clients, the Assembly informed.
Between May and June of this year, the average lending rate of commercial banks has fallen from 11.52% to 10.28%, a drop that is explained by the high level of liquidity of the banks and the low placement of credits.
The pandemic that caused the outbreak of covid-19 has hit the financial system, since due to the current market conditions, the active rates have come down between the months of May and July.
The Monetary Board approved the changes to the Credit Risk Regulations, which were proposed by the Superintendence of Banks and seek to simplify the requirements for loans not exceeding $160,000.
In this scenario of economic crisis resulting from the outbreak of covid-19, the objective of the endorsed modifications is to favor SMEs and individuals to gain access to credit lines offered by commercial banks.
Suspension of contracts, uncertainty about the economic future and reduction of salaries, are some of the factors that have affected the banks in Panama to place fewer loans in this context of health crisis.
The amount of new loans granted by Panamanian banks was $589 million during May this year, a 26% reduction compared to what was reported in April 2020.
The official notice obliging all entities of the country's financial system to provide the tax authorities with information on the bank accounts of all their foreign clients was published in the Gazette.
In order to attend with greater agility, now in Panama the Superintendence of Banks will be able to manage via e-mail the claims submitted to it.
To speed up the processes for the attention of claims before the regulatory entity, the Board of Directors of the Superintendence of Banks of Panama (SBP), approved Agreement No. 8 -2020 of July 16, 2020, which amends Articles 8 and 13 of Agreement No. 3-2008.
Panamanian authorities announced that the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd. was approved for a general license to operate in the local system.
The information was confirmed by the head of the Superintendency of Banks, Amauri Castillo, who explained that the Asian banking institution will be able to operate in Panama's financial center and do business in and from the national territory.
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.
In Panama, the Assembly approved in third debate a bill that seeks to force banks to consolidate customers' debts, regardless of their credit history.
According to Article 4 of the approved law, "... all credit obligations that the debtor has, regardless of the risk category or default status that these obligations register in the credit history of the interested party, are subject to debt consolidation."
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).
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.
The impact of the coronavirus crisis on the financial sector in Central America is expected to be felt mainly in services related to stock brokerage and investment advice, where a drop is expected.
The "Information System for the Impact Analysis of Covid-19 on Business", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, measures the degree of impact that the crisis will have on companies according to their sector or economic activity, during the coming months.