Banco Popular

Headquarters: San Jose, Costa Rica

Website

Additional Info

Type of bank
Universal

Established
1969

Assets
2.4 billion USD (2016)

Ownership
Owned by the workers of Costa Rica

Mandate
Aportamos valor al conglomerado, mediante servicios de asesoría y fiscalización que coadyuvan al cumplimiento de los objetivos institucionales, procurando una garantía razonable sobre su desempeño, con un enfoque sistémico e independiente. (We add value to the conglomerate, through advisory and inspection services that help fulfill institutional objectives, seeking a reasonable guarantee on its performance, with a systemic and independent approach.)

Covid response

Summary

Providing temporary payment relief to businesses and individual clients through the implementation of payment moratoriums and facilitating government support to individuals.

Loans
SMMEs

Debt Relief
SMMEs, Large Business, Start-ups, Individuals

Advisory services
Disseminated Ministry of Health information on health and sanitation measures in order to reduce the spread of disease. Providing staff with online seminars regarding mental health and dealing with the personal impacts of the pandemic.

Retail services
The bank has waived all internet and app banking fees and reduced in-person banking fees. Thorough health and safety protocols for employees and customers. Advice on how to reduce chance of transmitting the illness. Established a 'Crisis committee' to update, manage and coordinate actions regarding COVID-19 regulations and requirements. Changes to retail services including increased access to remote banking services, reduced hours for retail locations, and supplied technology to facilitate WFH for employees.

Collaboration public banks
Banco Popular is participating alongside other public universal banks in Costa Rica in contributing to, and administering, a government-led, 900 billion colones National Development Fund program. The programme will support the re-opening of businesses by providing working capital. Credit specifications will be determined by each bank, but the programme aims to ease credit record requirements, reduce interest rates, and provide sector-specific guarantees to the public banks, with a 2-year grace period on repayments, although a 'symbolic' payment is required every 180 days. State guarantees are offered through the Costa Rican Banca Para el Desarrollo, which received an injection of 200 billion colones from the National Development Fund.

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