The IFC has admitted Banco de Finanzas on to its Global Trade Finance programme, the first Nicaraguan bank to join the scheme as an issuing bank. Membership to the GTFP will allow the bank to expand its trade finance activities to a wider range of customers, including those in the small and medium-sized sector.

 

Banco de Finanzas has also signed an agreement with the IFC to develop a housing finance line of credit for low to middle income families, with IFC putting $15mn long-term financing towards this.

 

IFC will also be providing advisory services to help Banco de Finanzas expand its financial products for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as part of IFC’s US$20min MSME programme aimed at developing banks in Latin America’s ability to support the MSME sector.