Capital Bank is the initiative of a young successful Panamanian lawyer and entrepreneur Moisés Cohen with the aim to address the unmet demand for financial services and products of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in his country. Since its inception in 2007, Capital Bank has grown into a nationwide network of five branches, 26 ATMs and 100+ points of non-banking correspondents serving over 10,000 entrepreneurs in the SME and retail segments. In addition to regular lending products, Capital Bank offers a wide range of non-lending services to SMEs that include insurance, factoring and leasing. Gender diversity is high on the bank’s agenda: more than 50% of its employees are women. Illustrative of Capital Bank’s values-driven approach is the award for the Best Place to Work in Central America, which it has obtained for three consecutive years.
Capital Bank in Panama is a welcome addition to the Inclusive Finance portfolio of Triodos Investment Management. Estefanía Matesanz, Senior Investment Officer Latin America says: "Capital Bank speaks the language of the local small and medium-sized enterprises that are instrumental for a sound and inclusive economic development. The banks offers them personalised services, customized products and swift procedures.
Capital Bank’s full commitment and dedication to this sector is also illustrated by the training programmes and workshops that they offer via their subsidiary Capital Entrepreneural. Entrepreneurs are trained on important skills and knowledge, including accountancy, tax policies, negotiation skills, business innovation and governance.
Triodos Microfinance Fund and Triodos Fair Share Fund have provided a loan to Capital Bank to realise its growth ambitions. This loan fits the Triodos funds' strategy to stimulate the SME sector in emerging and developing economies.
Senior Investment Officer Estefanía Matesanz with a representative of Capital Bank and the general manager and financial manager of a family run business that produces and distributes construction and safety gear. In view of all the activities linked to the Panama Canal – both directly and indirectly – the demand for these products is high. This small family run business has, next to SME financing from Capital Bank, also benefitted from training programmes on negotiation skills and governance, amongst others, offered through Capital Entrepreneurial.