Brazil’s banks have long experience of steering through choppy financial waters and were able to anticipate the country’s current difficulties with a range of pragmatic and forward-looking measures that have rewarded them with increased profits in a shrinking economy. 

Economic difficulties and low commodity prices are forcing Latin America into a new age of pragmatism, as populist policies fall out of favour amid stagnant living standards, and worries emerge about the region's reliance on Chinese investment.

The Dominican Republic has forged its international reputation around tourism, but its diverse economy is bringing in investment in sectors as varied as telecommunications and textiles, while the country's president is setting to work on educational standards. Key players from the Dominican Republic discuss the country's promise in a Leadership Series roundtable discussion that was sponsored by BanReservas and independently written by The Banker.

The Bahamas' ability to create investment products quickly in response to clients' specific needs gives it an advantage as an international financial centre, though greater communication efforts may be needed to convince its critics regarding the country's compliance with international regulation. The discussion was sponsored by the Bahamas Financial Services Board, Equity Bank and Trust, Deltec and the Bahamas Ministry of Financial Services and independently edited by The Banker.

After BTG Pactual's chief executive, André Esteves, was arrested – if not charged – late last year, the bank’s managers were quick to limit any reputational damage, which included embarking upon a new strategic direction. Brian Caplen charts a turbulent few months for the lender.