2015 Banks of the Year Awards
Banks in Latin America walked a long and uncertain road in the 12 months ending in June. Low commodity prices, inflation, currency devaluation, international market volatility and sovereign downgrades were among the obstacles facing lenders. Yet, many of LatinFinance’s 2015 Banks of the Year Awards winners managed not only to maintain the health of their balance sheets, but also achieve remarkable growth through acquisitions, adaptive strategies and by keeping a shrewd eye towards opportunities in efficiency and increasing client bases.
The editorial team at LatinFinance decided on the institutions recognized on the following pages after an extensive, detailed selection process. Shortlists of the biggest banks by assets in each country were a starting point. In investment banking categories, the shortlists were drawn from leaders in local capital markets league tables. Adding microfinance institutions and multilateral development banks, the list of lenders under evaluation topped well over 140 institutions throughout the region.
LatinFinance considered extensive financial data for banks during the reference period — July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 — as well as the opinion of market analysts, and supporting documentation from institutions themselves. Further informing the selection process was an online survey. This garnered 153 responses, a record number.
This year’s winners demonstrated nimble strategies that reflected keen market perception and a penchant for increasing financial inclusion as they looked to widen their corporate and retail client bases through improved digital offerings. Similarly, efficiency was a consistent theme among the winners, as they look for ways to gain market share and growth in challenging economies. LF
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Bank of the Year: Grupo Financiero Ficohsa
Bank of the Year Argentina: Banco Macro
Bank of the Year Bolivia: Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz
Bank of the Year Brazil: Bradesco
Investment Bank of the Year Brazil: Itaú BBA
Bank of the Year Caribbean: Republic Bank
Bank of the Year Central America: BAC Credomatic
Bank of the Year Chile: Banco de Chile
Investment Bank of the Year Chile: Banchile Citi
Bank of the Year Colombia: Bancolombia
Investment Bank of the Year Colombia: Banco de Inversión Bancolombia
Bank of the Year Costa Rica: BAC San José
Bank of the Year Dominican Republic: Banreservas
Bank of the Year Ecuador: Banco Pichincha
Bank of the Year El Salvador: Banco Agrícola
Bank of the Year Guatemala: Banco Industrial
Bank of the Year Honduras: Grupo Financiero Ficohsa
Bank of the Year Jamaica: National Commercial Bank
Bank of the Year Mexico: BBVA Bancomer
Investment Bank of the Year Mexico: Banamex
Microfinance Institution of the Year: Fundacíon Delamujer
Multilateral Development Bank of the Year: Inter-American Development Bank
Bank of the Year Nicaragua: Banco Lafise Bancentro
Bank of the Year Panama: Banco General
Bank of the Year Paraguay: Banco Continental
Bank of the Year Peru: Scotiabank Peru
Bank of the Year Trinidad: Republic Bank
Bank of the Year Uruguay: Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay
Bank of the Year Venezuela: BBVA Provincial