El Salvador - Banking SystemsEl Salvador-Banking Systems
The Financial System Supervisor (Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero, SSF), an independent regulatory agency, authorizes and supervises all financial institutions in El Salvador. In August 2011, the Financial System Supervisor was merged with the Stock Market and the Pension Supervisor in order to create a single, independent regulatory agency which is headed by a Directive Council. The Central Bank regulates the financial system, administers international reserves, and manages the payment system and financial services, and provides services to exporters and importers (Centro de Tramites de Importaciones y Exportaciones – CIEX El Salvador).
By law, all transactions carried out in Salvadoran banks must be denominated in U.S. dollars. Interest rates and fees are set by market conditions. Private banks, branches of foreign banks, state-owned banks, and credit unions are authorized to collect funds from the public. The banking industry is competitive due to the presence of foreign banks and the openness of the banking law.
Commercial banking services in El Salvador are provided by fourteen institutions: twelve private banks and two state-owned banks. The leading private banks are: Banco Agrícola S.A. (acquired by Bancolombia);Banco Cuscatlán (formerly Citibank de El Salvador S.A); Banco Davivienda Salvadoreño, S.A. (formerly HSBC); Scotiabank El Salvador S.A.; and Banco de América Central S.A. Together, they account for approximately 95% of the Salvadoran banking sector. Banco Hipotecario and Banco de Fomento Agropecuario are government-owned, with market share of about 4%. In addition to the aforementioned, other financial institutions are authorized to capture savings from the public, including seven cooperatives and four savings and loans associations.
Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.
By law, all transactions carried out in Salvadoran banks must be denominated in U.S. dollars. Interest rates and fees are set by market conditions. Private banks, branches of foreign banks, state-owned banks, and credit unions are authorized to collect funds from the public. The banking industry is competitive due to the presence of foreign banks and the openness of the banking law.
Commercial banking services in El Salvador are provided by fourteen institutions: twelve private banks and two state-owned banks. The leading private banks are: Banco Agrícola S.A. (acquired by Bancolombia);Banco Cuscatlán (formerly Citibank de El Salvador S.A); Banco Davivienda Salvadoreño, S.A. (formerly HSBC); Scotiabank El Salvador S.A.; and Banco de América Central S.A. Together, they account for approximately 95% of the Salvadoran banking sector. Banco Hipotecario and Banco de Fomento Agropecuario are government-owned, with market share of about 4%. In addition to the aforementioned, other financial institutions are authorized to capture savings from the public, including seven cooperatives and four savings and loans associations.
Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.