Panama Banks – Assets up 2% in the First Quarter

Assets on an individual basis totaled 63 thousand 910 million dollars by the end of June, according to figures from the Banking Superintendency. In the Panamanian marketplace 90 banks operate.

The banking industry maintains the strength of its main indicators at the end of the first half of the year, despite the external and internal environment is not entirely in their favor.

Assets on an individual basis totaled 63 thousand 910 million dollars at end of first semester, an increase of 2.5% compared with June 2008. On a consolidated basis (including subsidiaries) amounted to 77 thousand 603 million, an increase of 4%.

The central bank liquidity remains strong, with a healthy loan portfolio and solvency levels above the regulatory minimum, according to the quarterly report of the Superintendency of Banks.

The return of center ROAA reached 1.8% and an ROE of 14.3%, reflecting a decrease in relation to those recorded in the previous year. This is because banks have chosen to sacrifice profitability for liquidity, as a prudent measure to counter possible effects of global financial crisis.

Financial liquidity is located on a 65.94% while the current regulatory framework requires 30%.

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