COLOMBIA: FINANCIAL CREDIT IS AVAILABLE, BUT AT A COST

UNCLAS BOGOTA 003574 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EINT EFIN OPIC CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: FINANCIAL CREDIT IS AVAILABLE, BUT AT A COST REF: 09 BOGOTA 3188 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Obtaining credit in Colombia is a challenge for small and medium size enterprises (SME). Many SMEs do not request credit because of the high interest rates (30 percent),the formality of the loan process, and the length of time it takes to receive loans. The GOC, however, has instituted programs to increase credit availability, with great success. Currently, 54 percent of Colombians have access to credit, according to financial experts Econoffs consulted. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Herman Verdugo, the lead economist at Correval (a leading Colombian stock brokerage) told Econoffs that the Colombian banking sector imposes very conservative lending practices, in part due to the Colombian financial crisis in the late 1990's when several banks collapsed because of risky lending and overexposure. Although these conservative lending practices helped buffer Colombia from today's financial crisis, the measures also contributed to a decrease in lending to SMEs. -------------- Bank of Opportunities -------------- ¶3. (U) Noting a lack of access to credit to SMEs, President Uribe initiated a program in 2006, called "Bank of Opportunities." The Bank's objective is to expand access to credit to all Colombians, particularly to low-income households in an effort to reduce poverty, stimulate development, and create social equality. The program is administered by the bank of foreign trade (Bancoldex) and uses a network of "bank of opportunities," such as commercial banks, microcredit NGOs, commercial finance companies, savings and credit unions, insurance companies, and family compensation funds. To increase credit throughout Colombia, microfinance outreach has been expanded through the establishment of non-banking agents, which can be commercial establishments, drugstores, post offices, or other institutions - so long as they establish an alliance with a regulated financial institution. ¶4. (U) From August 2006 to August 2009, the Bank of Opportunities provided 4.5 million lines of credit to SMEs, totaling almost US$ 7 billion. During that same period over 1.2 million SMEs accessed credit for the first time. The program has more than 480,000 active clients, of which more than 20 percent are Afro-Colombians and 65 percent are women. USAID also has provided technical assistance and training in microfinance to 10 commercial banks, which in turn have established a total of 5,532 non-banking agents throughout Colombia, as of September 2009. These agents provide banking services such as micro saving accounts, paying points, micro insurances, rural and urban microcredit to low-income families and SMEs. ¶5. (U) In addition to providing financial services, the program also educates lenders and borrowers about the credit process, the available options and how to manage loans. Since 2007, the Bank of Opportunities has conducted capacity building and training workshops as well as financial education training for its social managers under Citibank's program "Money for Change." -------------- Microfinance Institutions -------------- ¶6. (U) Another source of credit for SMEs in Colombia is microfinance institutions (MFI) that are linked to non-governmental organizations. The more popular ones are the Women's World Banking (WWB) microfinance institutions. Colombia's National Association of Financial Institutions (ANIF) considers the WWB institutions in Bucaramanga, Cali, and Popayan to be outstanding lending institutions with a solid reputation in Colombia. Forbes Magazine ranked the three institutions in the top 10 in its "Top 50 Microfinance Institutions" publication. The majority of loans provided are for individuals, with a ceiling of about US$ 1,000. The three institutions combined have more than 600,000 clients and provide over US$ 500 million in credit (see reftel). -------------- Can't Get Credit -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The high interest rates for SMEs is the leading reason for reduced access to credit. The GOC has capped interest rates for microcredit loans at 34 percent. Bancoldex and other lending institutions charge close to that interest rate, arguing that these loans are high risk. In conversations with Econoff, local SMEs in Bogota and Barranquilla noted that 30 percent was the best rate they could obtain on a loan. A manager of a medium size company that exported coal said the lowest loan interest rate he ever received was 20 percent. He indicated his company has a strong credit history and a solid balance sheet. (Note: According to the Small Business Administration, the average interest rate for U.S. micro-loans exceeding US$ 10,000 is 7.75 percent; the rate is 8.5 percent for loans under US$ 10,000. For SME loans of about US$ 150,000, the interest rate is the prime rate plus 2.25 to 4.75 percentage points, depending on the loan's term and size. End Note) ¶8. (SBU) The formal application process, delays in receiving a loan, and the informality of the SME sector also limit access to credit. Carlos Rojas, Vice President of ANIF, told Econoff that according to an ANIF national survey on SMEs, the main obstacle to accessing credit is the formal application process, which requires a credit history, balance sheets, a business license, among other things. Rojas added that the majority of SMEs work in an informal setting and are not accustomed to using balance sheets or other formal business tools that would help in bolstering the credit-worthiness of their business. In this environment, money is lent in the informal sector with higher interest rates, but with less paperwork and in a timely fashion. -------------- -------------- -- High Marks for Colombia from an International View -------------- -------------- -- ¶9. (U) According to the Economist's Intelligence Unit's 2009 "Global Microscope on the Microfinance Business Environment" report, Colombia ranked 8th among 55 countries across the globe. The report compared the countries in three broad categories: regulatory framework, investment climate and institutional development. The study highlighted the strong institutions and market mechanisms for the development of microcredit in Colombia. Currently, 54 percent of Colombians have access to credit, according to Ricardo Avila, Director of Portafolio, a leading financial newspaper. -------------- Comment: Credit is There, But... -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Access to credit in Colombia is available, but it comes with a prohibitive 30 percent interest rate for most SME credit-seekers. To increase the number of SME borrowers, and SME's return on investments and growth, the GOC is recalculating the interest rate cap, but it is not expected to decrease by much. BROWNFIELD