Paymentology, the leading global issuer-processor, today announces an expanded partnership with Mastercard to bolster financial inclusion across Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Financial inclusion would be a key objective of the consultation on the potential of a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) launched by the Central Bank of Honduras.

This is the first time that a rating agency specializing in microfinance has been authorized in Panama to rate regulated financial institutions in the country.

The investment will allow Banistmo to address two development challenges simultaneously by reducing the financing gap for SMEs and addressing the country's housing deficit.

The commitments are part of Mastercard’s engagement, as a founding member, in the Partnership for Central America.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, provided Banco General, S.A., a loan of $150 million for mortgage lending for low and middle-income families in Panama, at the end of 2019.

Aligned with its social purpose and in light of COVID-19’s progress in Latin America, BBVA Microfinance Foundation’s six institutions in five countries in the region have adopted urgent and necessary measures to help its 2.2 million clients cope with this situation.