An economic boom coupled with new technologies is allowing Peruvian banks to tap consumer bases that have long been overlooked in the country. But, as the banking market advances at a breakneck speed, there are vulnerabilities to look out for – not least dollarisation.

The World Bank's chief economist for Latin American and the Caribbean, Augusto de la Torre, discusses ways to increase the value of foreign direct investment in the region and how to manage short-term capital flows.

Increased competition from public sector banks, criticism from the president, a weakening economy and aggressive interest rate cuts are combining to make life difficult for Brazil's private banks. Will an efficiency drive see them emerge leaner, smarter and stronger?

Both Santiago and São Paulo are making significant strides towards becoming Latin America's foremost asset management hub. The Chilean capital has extensive experience, while the Brazilian metropolis already boasts the sixth largest asset management industry in the world. However, both are seeing their progress stunted by regulatory and taxation issues.

The small and medium-sized banks of Brazil have faced a series of challenges in recent years, from fraud scandals to adapting to international accounting standards. In light of this, the country's government has attempted to offer some sort of salvation in the shape of its Special Guaranteed Time Deposits, but is this a short-term solution to a long-term problem?

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.

São Paulo's rise to become the leading international financial centre of Latin America over the past decade has been impressive, but this has not stopped other cities in the region carving out their own financial niches. 

As governments in the Western world attempt to implement more conservative regulation within their financial markets, banks in Uruguay are stagnating because of the country's overcautious economic approach over the past decade. Writer John Rumsey

Hindered by years of armed conflict and governmental infighting, Colombia has launched a long-awaited infrastructure development programme, set to pump $24bn into its ailing transport network and, in turn, stimulate healthy competition among its banks as they bid to provide funding. Writer John Rumsey