Latin American banks show the highest returns of any region in the world, but there are some sharp variations within the region.

Panama has been capitalising on its prime location between the Americas to attract foreign companies, and has been ramping up its infrastructure to support growth. So how will it be affected by the global slowdown? Writer John Rumsey .

With a thriving economy that appears to be on the up, Panama is seeing a wave of takeovers by foreign banks. John Rumsey reports.

M&As have further cut the number of rankable entries in our listing, which remains dominated by Panama.

Turning developments in the region and even Panama’s own political crises to good advantage, Banistmo won The Banker ’s Bank of the Year award, having retained its position as Panama’s leading private bank over the past two decades. It has also grown into central America’s biggest private banking group.

Despite being blacklisted by the world’s major regulatory bodies in 2000, Panama’s banks never stopped growing. Jane Monahan reports from Panama City.

The Banker invites CEOs from around the world to discuss the economic climate in their country and institution, and their hopes for the future