Banking

The banking crises of the 1980s and 1990s have left Peru with a highly concentrated, conservative banking system that is on one of the region’s most solid foundations, boasting strong capital and liquidity. The sector has retained a positive outlook from global credit ratings agency Moody’s since November 2017, which last reaffirmed this view in October 2018, predicting a recovery in loan growth, stable asset risk and solid profits to bolster capital buffers. However, though domestic lending to the private sector has increased, provision of credit remains comparatively low, at 41.1% of GDP. Furthermore, despite significant progress to increase banking penetration, financial inclusion metrics remain below the Latin American average. If Peru’s financial system truly embraces the digital era, financial inclusion indicators should improve, representing a chance for banks to vastly grow their customer base. This chapter contains an interview with Gianfranco Ferrari, CEO, Banco de Crédito del Perú.