Consumer loans remain positive.
Liquidity and solvency indicators recorded 56.7% and 15.34%, respectively.
Savers rely on banks, as evidenced by the balance of deposits in the International Banking Center (CBI), which exceeded the USD 100 billion mark, according to the results of the Banking Activity Report (IAB) as of March 2023, published by the Superintendency of Banks of Panama (SBP).
These results are, to a great extent, thanks to increasing term deposits, with a concentration among individuals. These deposits have high renewal rates and, at the same, time, improve the funding and liquidity profiles of banks.
On the other hand, the National Banking System (SBN) recorded growth in the gross domestic credit portfolio, totaling USD 84.50 billion, representing a 9.8% increase compared to March 2022, which is equivalent to USD 2.71 billion more in a year. Although this performance is positive, it showed a slight deceleration since November 2022.
The growth was recorded in most of the portfolios that make up these types of loans and in new loans to corporations and legal entities, primarily because of the dynamics of commercial and industrial loans (6.6% and 6.3%, respectively). The only component that underperformed was the construction portfolio, which decreased by 4.3%.
Regarding the balance of household loans, the consumer portfolio remained positive (1.7%), while both personal and car loans showed a 2.8% increase.
CBI assets totaled USD 142.02 billion, representing a USD 6.32 billion increase compared to a year earlier, or a year-on-year increase of 4.7%. Bank assets accelerated their expansion rate because of growth in the net credit portfolio (9.8%) and the securities portfolio (3.6%).
During the surveyed period, the banking sector evolved positively. The latest data show that credit, market, and liquidity risks are being managed consistently within the macroeconomic situation and banks continue to show stable financial soundness indicators.
The foregoing is attributed to the liquidity and soundness indicators, which recorded 56.7% and 15.34%, respectively, indicating that banks operating in the Panamanian market have recorded indexes above the legally required thresholds (30% and 8%).
For further information on this report, please visit our website at www.superbancos.gob.pa (Statistics).
