What is a Panamanian Financiera?

A Financiera is very similar to a bank in some regards and different in others. A Financiera is regulated by the Panamanian Ministry of Finance, just the same as the banks in Panamá. Regulations require a Financiera to have annual, certified audits. A Financiera respects all of the same Panamanian privacy laws as the banks. One of the major differences between banks and a Financiera is that a Financiera cannot accept deposits from the public nor have checking accounts. However, a Financiera can accept participating funds into a “loan pool” for investment purposes. These are “Loan Pool Contributions.” The money from Savings Contracts is treated much the same as deposits into a bank.

Grupo Atlantic Partners, S.A. (GAP) is a secure Financial Institution.

Banks and Financieras in Panamá are safe and secure. Bank and Financiera regulations in Panama are strong. Panamanian Supervision of Banks and Financieras are very strong, with timely and recurring examinations; and required audits. Banking and Financial activity secrecy is of little value if the assets being protected are not safe and secure. Panamá is a secure place to keep assets since it has conservative banking laws designed to protect depositors and Savings Contracts. It is also important to note that Panamá is not subject to hurricanes and other natural disasters. In other “tax haven” jurisdictions in the Region, i.e.-Caribbean Islands, Costa Rica, Belize, etc, people have been unable to gain access to their money for several weeks, after a direct hit from a hurricane, an earthquake or other natural disaster. Panama is not normally subject to Hurricanes or earthquakes. No one we talked to could remember a Hurricane hitting Panama. Rain falls in abundance during the rainy season in Panama, it makes the Canal work so well, but it is predictable and handled efficiently.

GAP never enters into risky lending practices. No sub-prime mortgages...NO 10% down mortgages...NO 5% down mortgages. NO MORTGAGES!!! GAP makes only high-yield, short term (45-days to 90-days), heavily secured construction and factoring loans, of no more than $50,000 each.

Panamá is politically stable. The government is elected in much the same way as in Canada or the United States. And although the American military left Panamá a decade ago, they left behind a stable government based on a truly vibrant and representative democracy.