Finance
Banking, capital markets, sovereign debt, fintech
77 articlesBDE Places USD 100M Green Bond as Public Banking Enters Market
Banco de Desarrollo del Ecuador issued USD 100 million in green bonds in its first securities-market operation of this type. The issue drew 125% demand, with 80% bought by the private sector, and is intended to finance environmental infrastructure projects.
Ecuador Unemployment Falls to 3.1% as Informal Employment Holds at 52.8%
Ecuador’s unemployment rate fell from 4.1% in May 2025 to 3.1% in May 2026, equivalent to about 86,000 fewer unemployed people. The business signal is mixed: adequate employment reached 36.6%, but informal employment still covered 52.8% of employed workers.
Ecuador SME Credit Rises 12% as Cooperatives and BanEcuador Drive Placement
Ecuadorian SME credit placement rose about 12% from January through May 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Cooperatives and public banking, especially BanEcuador, accounted for 70% of the increase, while private banks represented 30%.
Decevale-Isspol Judgment Orders USD 693M Repair Payment
A tribunal convicted six defendants in the Decevale case and ordered a USD 693M repair payment to Isspol. The case began with 2020 complaints from Superintendencia de Compañías, Valores y Seguros against Decevale S.A. and Citadel Casa de Valores over alleged market-operations irregularities.
SEPS Data Show 38 Credit Cooperatives in Forced Liquidation as Delinquency Exceeds 8%
SEPS data show 38 Ecuadorian credit cooperatives were in forced liquidation as of May 5, 2026. Ambato accounted for 36.8% of the cases, Quito 26.3% and Cuenca 21.1%, with sector delinquency above 8% versus roughly 3% in private banking.
BanEcuador Sets USD 253M El Nino Credit and Relief Buffer
BanEcuador says it has USD 253 million available for credit, refinancing and relief measures tied to a possible El Nino event. The bank estimates up to USD 13 million in loans could face repayment risk, with agriculture identified as the most exposed sector.
Finance and Mining Lead Ecuador 2025 Utilities as Net Profit Hits USD 10.017B
A corporate-utilities ranking based on Superintendencia de Companias data put Ecuador 2025 net utility at USD 10.017 billion. Financial and insurance activities led by sector share, followed by mining, commerce and manufacturing.
Ecuador June Fixed-Term Deposit Average Rate Slips to 5.29%
Ecuador's average passive effective rate for fixed-term deposits reached 5.29% in June 2026, down from 5.34% in May and 5.40% in April. Listed rates ranged from 4.31% for 30-60 days to 6.45% for terms of 360 days or more.
CONAFIPS to Mobilize $155M for Farmers and Young Entrepreneurs
CONAFIPS will mobilize up to $155 million in productive financing through a credit-incentive program for young entrepreneurs and small farmers. Official projections point to approximately 30,000 small farmers and 8,000 young-led ventures as beneficiaries.
BIESS Offers Three Mortgage-Debt Options as 2026 Credit Target Reaches $5.8B
BIESS reminded affiliates, retirees and pensioners that mortgage borrowers have three alternatives for payment problems: refinancing, restructuring and novation. The bank targets $5.8 billion in 2026 credit placements after placing $5.0986 billion in 2025, including $479 million in mortgage loans across 7,816 operations.
Ecuador VAT Revenue Reaches $4.068B Through April
Ecuador collected $4.068 billion in VAT from January through April 2026, up 15% from $3.549 billion a year earlier. VAT represented about 46.5% of total tax revenue, while internal sales reached $53.903 billion in January-March, up 12%.
OIM Opens SME Fund Offering Up to $40,000 in Ecuador
The OIM Enterprise Development Fund opened a call for SMEs in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta, Ambato and Ibarra. Selected companies may receive $20,000 to $40,000 for expansion, innovation, productive strengthening and job creation.
BIESS Quirografario Loans Reach $1.963B Placement
BIESS has placed $1.963 billion in quirografario consumer loans through 1.18 million operations. The product offers up to $38,560 depending on reserve-fund and severance guarantees, with repayment terms of up to 60 months.
State Transfers $927M to IESS Pension Subsidy Through May
Ecuador transferred $927 million to IESS for the state 40% pension contribution from January through May 2026. The figure equals 34.53% of the $2.684 billion coded annual budget, with $306.5 million recognized but not yet paid.
Ecuador Country Risk Falls Below 400 for First Time Since 2014
Ecuador's country-risk indicator fell to 396 points on June 3, its lowest level since October 2014. The measure is down 96 points since the start of 2026 and 1,620 points since President Daniel Noboa took office.
Consumer Credit Expansion Drives Ecuador Auto-Sales Rebound
Ecuador's consumer-credit volume rose from $1.628 billion to $2.238 billion from January through April, a 37.4% increase. Auto-sector leaders say financing supports about 60% of new-vehicle sales and is driving the 2026 rebound.
Ecuador Budget Revenue Rises $2.303B Through May
Ecuador collected $12.220 billion in state-budget revenue through May 2026, $2.303 billion more than in the same period of 2025. Oil receipts nearly tripled to $1.239 billion, while tax collection supplied 65% of total income.
Banco Pichincha Reports 6.5M Customers and 82% Digital Transactions
Banco Pichincha says it now serves more than 6.5 million customers, equal to 37% of Ecuador's population, El Universo reports. The bank cites 82% digital transactions, $14.1 billion in productive-credit portfolio and $1.5 billion in sustainable project financing.
BIESS Returns 35 of 37 Closed Complementary Pension Funds to Original Administrators
BIESS restored administration of 35 of 37 closed complementary pension funds to their original administrators, El Universo reports. The process reduces administrative load tied to funds that the institution says had generated more than $500,000 in costs.
Ecuador Overdue Collections Portfolio Rises to About $2.5B, Asocob Says
Ecuador's overdue financial-system portfolio managed by collection firms has risen from about $1.6 billion before Covid-19 to about $2.5 billion, according to Primicias reporting on Asocob. The association cites overindebtedness, labor instability and spending priorities as key factors behind household arrears.