Ecuador's Banking Regulator Flags 14 Unauthorized Financial Entities — Full List

If anyone in Ecuador offers you an investment with returns "considerably exceeding those of banks and cooperatives" — run.

Ecuador's Superintendencia de Bancos (banking superintendent) has published a list of 14 unauthorized financial entities operating in the country as of April 30, 2026. These organizations are not licensed to collect deposits, issue loans, or conduct any financial intermediation activity.

The Full List

1. Plata Puntual / Préstamo Listo
2. Rico / Créditos y Préstamos
3. DineroFácil / Préstamo Fácil
4. Crédito Smart
5. Préstamos Ecuador
6. Crece Credit
7. CrediPaguitos
8. Cooperativa Pro Credit
9. CrediAlianza S.A.S.
10. CréditoFast / Préstamo Fast
11. FinanciaHora / Préstamo Seguro
12. Credicer Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada
13. CrediQuito
14. Consulting Global Ecuador LMJP S.A.

The Pattern

These entities typically operate online or through social media, offering quick loans or investment returns that far exceed market rates. The regulator warned that both individuals and companies "not authorized" by the Superintendencia are prohibited from collecting third-party funds or conducting habitual financial activities.

This isn't a new phenomenon. In 2025 alone, 60 unauthorized entities were detected — suggesting the problem is widespread and growing.

How to Verify

Before depositing money or accepting a loan from any financial institution in Ecuador, verify it's registered with the Superintendencia de Bancos or the Superintendencia de Economía Popular y Solidaria (SEPS) for cooperatives. Licensed institutions are publicly listed on their websites.

What This Means for Expats

Expats are disproportionately targeted. Newcomers unfamiliar with Ecuador's banking system are prime candidates for unlicensed financial schemes — especially those promising to help with money transfers, investment "opportunities," or informal lending.

If the name sounds like a bank but isn't on the official list, it's not a bank. Note that "Cooperativa Pro Credit" on this list is designed to be confused with Banco ProCredit, a legitimate licensed institution. The name similarity is deliberate.

Stick to established institutions. Banco Pichincha, Banco del Pacífico, Banco Guayaquil, Produbanco, and Banco ProCredit (the real one) are all fully regulated. For cooperatives, verify with SEPS.

Report suspicious entities. Contact the Superintendencia de Bancos through their official channels if you've been approached by any organization not on the regulated list.

Source: El Telégrafo