A. M. 
According to the recent report of the Asociación Bancaria Salvadoreña (ABANSA), on the Banking Ranking, the balance of gross loans in october 2024 reached US$17,299.3 million, marking an increase of US$1,063.4 million, equivalent to an increase of 6.5% compared to the same month of 2023. At the same time, loan refinancing reached US$680.3 million, distributed mainly in consumer loans (54%), housing (15%) and services (9%).
The consumer sector led refinancing in october 2024 with US$363.8 million, consolidating its position as the most important category, representing more than half of the total refinanced. This behavior demonstrates the high dependence of households on credit to sustain consumption, in a context of moderate economic recovery.
In contrast, the housing and services sectors showed refinancing of US$103.5 million (15%) and US$61.3 million (9%), respectively, reflecting an increase in credit demand for these items compared to the end of december 2023. Despite this, sectors such as industry and construction continue to have a modest share, with 2% and 3%, respectively.
The past-due loan portfolio registered a decrease of US$4 million (-1.3%) in october 2024, to US$316.6 million. This decrease highlights a better performance in loan recovery by financial institutions.
The sustained growth of credit and the decrease in overdue loans reflect a positive dynamic in the financial system, driven by the reactivation of consumption and stability in key sectors such as housing and services.
