Banco LAFISE Panamá SA Receives A Higher Rating from Moodys and PCR

Banco LAFISE Panamá SA has achieved a significant improvement in its credit rating by two prestigious risk rating agencies, Moody’s and Pacific Credit Rating (PCR). Both agencies upgraded the bank’s rating due to its strong operational and financial performance as of December 2023.  Moody’s has raised Banco LAFISE Panama ‘s rating to BBB+ from BBB and has maintained a stable outlook. The agency highlights “the constant growth reported in the loan portfolio, with adequate diversification by the type of credit. In addition, it considers the effective handling of risk management, through the control of delinquency levels, through portfolio monitoring and an appropriate write-off policy. ”

Moody’s also highlights the favorable evolution in profitability metrics, driven by higher financial income derived from the re-pricing of the credit portfolio in an environment of higher interest rates and higher returns on investments. This, together with the control of financial costs, is reflected in a growing financial spread and an improvement in operational efficiency.  For its part, Pacific Credit Rating (PCR) has improved the rating of Banco LAFISE Panamá SA from pa BBB+ to pa A- . PCR bases this decision on “the growth of the portfolio in the corporate sector and the improvement in delinquencies, which has positively impacted its profitability. Additionally, Banco LAFISE Panama, SA is part of the LAFISE Regional Financial Group, which has a strong presence and experience in the banking system of Central America, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean, which allows the bank to maintain healthy financial performance under policies of risk management and corporate governance aligned with those of the group to which it belongs.”

These credit rating improvements reaffirm our financial strength and stability and demonstrate Banco LAFISE Panama’s commitment to operational excellence and prudent management, reinforcing its position as a key player in the regional financial sector, maintaining the trust of our investors and clients. LAFISE Group is a business conglomerate born in the United States, founded in 1985, to integrate and energize the markets of the region. We have a presence in 11 countries serving more than a million satisfied customers, promoting businesses in the financial sector of banking, insurance and stock exchange, among others, providing advanced financial solutions for the requirements of institutions, companies and people, supporting the development of communities and countries.