If 2017’s election calendar was dominated by Europe, 2018 is Latin America’s turn. This year will see national elections in some of the region’s biggest economies including Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. A key issue in the latter is a stalling economy, which in the third quarter of 2017 shrank for the first time in three years.
Capital levels at its biggest banks have followed the same trajectory, dipping between 18% (Banamex) and 7% (Banorte) between 2015 and 2016, although their Bank for International Settlements (BIS) ratios are still sound.
BBVA’s local subsidiary Bancomer is the country’s biggest, with $7.656bn in Tier 1 and a BIS ratio of 13.7%, followed by Banamex ($5.52bn Tier 1 and a ratio of 14.36%). Santander’s local subsidiary and Banorte are a close third and fourth; the former holds $21m more in Tier 1 than the latter.
Rounding out the top five is local lender Banco Inbursa with $3.03bn in Tier 1.
All data sourced from www.thebankerdatabase.com
