Many of Latin America's high-net-worth individuals are repatriating their funds and an increasing number of foreign investors are targeting the region, thanks to its rapidly expanding economy. With such demand for local product providers, domestic firms are finding themselves having to pit their specialist knowledge against the international reach of large foreign banks, making competition tough.

Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez has ushered in massive changes to the country's banking sector, nationalising or closing banks, while introducing community banking terminals in slum areas to make banking more accessible. But is this level of public spending sustainable?

A casual glance at Venezuela's banking sector would suggest that it is in good health. However, intervention from president Hugo Chavez's government is threatening the stability of the country's financial environment. Writer Brian Caplen

Some of the multilateral development banks in the Latin Americas region are proving stellar sources of funding at this time of crisis, although others are lagging behind with depleted reserves. Writer Jane Monahan