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Fight for Market Share

Fight for Market Share

March 1, 2006
Panama's International Banking Center has grown, thanks to a burgeoning local economy and incentives. But some banks complain the market is too crowded.

Panama

Terence McCoyPanama's International Banking Center continues to attract new foreign players, with 16 banks receiving operating licenses from the Banking Superintendency in 2004 and 2005. While this might seem to be a good thing, boosting development of the country's financial system, Panama's more established foreign banks are starting to complain that the market has become too competitive and margins are dropping. In a market with only 3 million people, the Banking Superintendency reported at the end of 2005 there were 78 financial institutions registered as banks, including 37 with licenses to offer local services and another 34 with licenses to service international clients.

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