Financial Services and Fintech in El Salvador
Top five banks by share of assets, 2025
| Bank | Assets | Gross loans | Deposits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bancoagrícola | 24% | 24.2% | 25.4% |
| Banco Cuscatlán | 16.8% | 17.9% | 17.4% |
| BAC Credomatic | 14.6% | 15.6% | 15% |
| Davivienda El Salvador | 13.3% | 14.2% | 13.6% |
| Banco Hipotecario (state) | 9% | 6.2% | 8.2% |
Source: Diario El Mundo: ranking 2025, the largest banks in El Salvador, ABANSA, 8 March 20261
Shares of the banking system. They are followed by Banco Promérica, Banco Atlántida, Banco Azul, Banco Industrial, the state farm bank BFA, Banco Integral, Citibank and ABANK. Financial and insurance activities grew 4.51% in real terms in 2025.1,4
New licences and fintech
- Investment banks: a 2025 law created banks for sophisticated investors with at least USD 250,000 in liquid assets.
- Payments and transfers: in October 2026 the SSF approved the purchase of the transfer company SPDE by the fintech Monetae.
- Digital assets: the CNAD authorises Bitcoin and digital asset service providers; see the Bitcoin and digital assets page.
- Deposit guarantee: deposits are covered up to USD 12,054 per person and per institution until the end of 2027.
Source: Diario El Mundo: new banking law for sophisticated investors approved; El Universal SV: Monetae receives SSF approval to acquire SPDE Transferencias de El Salvador, 9 October 2026; IGD: new deposit guarantee amount in El Salvador5,6,7
Frequently Asked Questions
How many banks operate in El Salvador?
Thirteen banks, five of them Salvadoran-owned, according to the banking association ABANSA.
How large is the banking system?
At the end of 2025 deposits reached USD 22,124.9 million (up 16.9%), gross loans USD 19,044.8 million (up 8.8%) and assets USD 28,420.8 million.
How much are remittances?
Remittances reached a record USD 9,987.9 million in 2025.
Sources
- Diario El Mundo: ranking 2025, the largest banks in El Salvador, ABANSA, 8 March 2026 (in Spanish)
- Diario El Mundo: El Salvador closed 2025 with a record USD 9,987.9 million in remittances (in Spanish)
- INVEST: investor guide 2025 (PDF, in Spanish)
- Diario El Mundo: the Salvadoran economy grew 3.9% in 2025, driven by construction (in Spanish)
- Diario El Mundo: new banking law for sophisticated investors approved (in Spanish)
- El Universal SV: Monetae receives SSF approval to acquire SPDE Transferencias de El Salvador, 9 October 2026 (in Spanish)
- IGD: new deposit guarantee amount in El Salvador (in Spanish)
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
