Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Results for “finance”Clear
Ecuador’s banking system added more first-time credit card users in 2025, with 4.63 million cards recording consumption. The trend matters for residents building local financial history.
BIESS has modernized InmoBiess, a web platform where affiliates and retirees can review qualified housing projects and estimate mortgage payments. The tool includes projects by city, price and number of bedrooms, but it does not replace the formal credit evaluation.
Ecuador recorded 12,322 vehicle-embargo judicial processes in 2025, and 10,609 more from January through May 2026. The numbers matter for anyone financing a car under a pledge or title-reservation structure.
Regressive erosion on the Coca River has damaged key infrastructure for more than six years, with estimated losses between $4.7 billion and $5.5 billion through May 2026. The risk matters nationally because Coca Codo Sinclair supplies about 25% of Ecuador's average electricity demand.
Ecuador now has 393 institutions in the popular-and-solidarity finance market, including 387 savings and credit cooperatives. Segment 1 cooperatives hold more than $24.6 billion in assets, about 31% of private-bank assets, and the largest cooperatives now rank among the country's biggest financial institutions.
Ecuador’s country-risk indicator closed at 386 basis points on June 12, the lowest level reported since September 30, 2014. The drop signals improved market confidence, though it does not immediately change day-to-day costs for residents.
BIESS has three mechanisms for affiliates, retirees and pensioners with pending mortgage obligations: refinancing, restructuring and novation. The options are designed to reduce late-interest pressure, protect credit history and avoid legal action tied to missed payments.
El Universo reports that Ecuador recorded 273,554 active labor contracts from January through April 2026, with 171,735 concentrated in one broad macrosector covering agriculture, construction, commerce, finance, professional services and health-related work.
El Comercio reports that dialysis patients are traveling to other cities or paying out of pocket because the MSP owes two years of services to private dialysis centers. The report says many patients do not reach the 12 monthly sessions they require.
The May 6 placement of $1 billion in bonds drew $7 billion in demand from 200 international investors. Country risk is at its lowest since 2014. Here's what it means for the economy.
Banco Pichincha went from $42M to $88M in profits. Banco del Pacífico: $46M to $84M. The president posted the numbers on X and questioned who benefits from the crisis narrative.
International investors put up $7 billion in orders for $1 billion in Ecuadorian sovereign bonds. The yield improved, the country risk hit an 11-year low, and the government says it proves confidence is back.
