Managing Credit Risk in Rural Financial Institutions in Latin America

The purpose of this report is to review common credit risk management techniques used in a sample of Latin American financial institutions with agricultural portfolios, identify the factors that contribute to successful credit risk management as measured by several key financial performance indicators in order to assist donors, governments, and owners of financial institutions to promote and adopt the most efficient and robust techniques. This report also examines a sample of 42 financial institutions in Latin America that have agricultural portfolios, and identifies their principal perceived risks, how they asses and manage credit risk, and how effective they are in the process as measured by key financial performance indicators (such as asset quality, portfolio growth, and profit margins).