In this final issue of 2015, we will be highlighting the main local banking trends of the past 10 years and offer our outlook for 2016. In the last decade, total employment has decreased by 20%, real GNP by 14% and the GDB’s EAI by 19%. Looking at macro banking trends specifically, the number of retail banks has decreased from 10 to 5, the number of branches has been cut by 34%, and total assets have experienced a reduction of 42%. Delinquency levels have remained at very high levels, with noncurrent loans and leases ratio averaging 10% in the 2006-2015 period compared to 2% between 2002 and 2005. Credit losses have translated into a deterioration of the pre-tax return on equity (ROE) of the local banking system which averaged 1.4% during the 2006-2015 period, compared to 17% between 2002 and 2005. Notwithstanding tough local market conditions, during the past years banks have done an extraordinary job at reducing the amount of troubled assets and have dramatically increased capital levels (risk-based capital ratio of 18.6% in 2015 vs. 10.6% in 2006). As a result, the banking sector currently boasts a much healthier balance sheet and a more robust capital position which will allow it to face the additional economic and financial stress expected for 2016 and beyond.
PR Banking Industry Report – January to December 2015
March 17, 2016
