Categoría: News Página 5 de 12

Grupo Financiero Ficohsa – the Central American financial services group headquartered in Honduras – has been appointed to the Partnership for Central America, the public–private initiative set up by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to expand jobs, investment and financial inclusion in the Northern Triangle.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Luis Atala, Executive Vice President of Ficohsa, said, “As the leading bank in Honduras – and one of the largest in Central America – we take very seriously our responsibility to drive social and economic development in the region, helping the growth of public and private institutions, and generating jobs and equal opportunities for all citizens.  Given our focus on supporting SMEs, expanding financial inclusion, and attracting inward investment, we believe we have much to contribute to the Partnership for Central America.”

Ficohsa is committed to providing a further 210,000 unbanked, vulnerable people with financial products and services, and is working to double its network of authorized banking agents to provide crucial financial services through small community merchants.

Mr. Atala continued, “We believe it is essential that everyone has access to financial services.  That is why we are investing US$50M in digital banking, such as our mobile phone-based payment service TENGO, that will expand financial inclusion and ensure that a greater proportion of remittances sent home to families in Central America are deposited in bank accounts and invested in assets, savings and businesses.”

On joining the PCA, Ficohsa has pledged to support the goals of Central America Forward, focusing on strengthening governance, combating corruption, and improving security.  Ficohsa’s significant investments in robust compliance and internal auditing systems have enabled it to grow transparently and with confidence.  The Group’s Code of Ethics and Conduct is backed by anonymous and private complaints channels and a robust Anti Corruption and Bribery Management System.

Media contact: Alejandra Zelaya, alejandra.zelaya@ficohsa.com, +504 9926-5524, www.ficohsa.com

With 6,000 employees, Ficohsa serves 2.1M clients (30% of whom are women), including nearly 25,000 SMEs.  Ficohsa is working to double its SME loan portfolio to US$910M over the next five years, prioritizing the growth of women-led businesses through preferential loans, insurance, and financial education.   Ficohsa’s 2022 Sustainability Report outlines the progress the banking services group has made in financial inclusion, ethical banking, and investments in environmentally sustainable projects.  Ficohsa is a member of the UN’s Global Compact, and adheres to the recently-updated GRI standards and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).  Since its establishment 25 years ago, the Ficohsa Foundation for Children’s Education has transformed the lives of 150,000 pre-school children, trained over 300 teachers, delivered over 12 million meals, and created 29 technology centers equipped with over 500 computers in 150 schools in Honduras and Central America.

Juan Carlos Atala, President of the Ficohsa Foundation for Children’s Education, today joined U.S. Ambassador Laura F. Dogu, Minister of Education Daniel Esponda, representatives of USAID, and local students at the inauguration of the first of 25 schools to be renovated under the USAID-led Alliance for Education initiative to support education reform and improvements to school infrastructure in Honduras.

With the help of the Ficohsa Foundation, the Esteban Mendoza school in Tegucigalpa has received a new roof and electrical wiring, all doors and windows have been repaired, the water and sanitation systems have been restored, improved lighting has been installed, and a fresh coat of paint applied throughout.  The 854 boys and girls who attend the Esteban Mendoza School, along with 49 teachers, will now be able to learn in refurbished classrooms.

Commenting on the occasion, Ficohsa Group President Camilo Atala said, “Ficohsa and the Ficohsa Foundation for Children’s Education have been deeply committed to supporting public education in Honduras for 25 years, helping over 150,000 children in 150 schools.  Today is just the beginning of our expanded support, as we start to see the results of our US$1 million investment in renovating 250 classrooms in 25 schools throughout the country, benefiting over 10,500 students and teachers.”

Ficohsa Foundation President, Juan Carlos Atala, said at the event, “Together with USAID, the Honduran Ministry of Education, and the private sector, we have formed a powerful alliance that is working together to make our common goals a reality: to provide children and youths in Honduras with quality, accessible, and equitable education.”

Camilo Atala added, “Ficohsa will continue to participate in projects that promote the well-being of Hondurans.  Education is one of our main pillars and I believe that, by working together with partners such as USAID, the Honduran government, and private companies, our impact will be greater and more sustainable.”

The schools selected for renovation will be located near to the kindergarten schools that the Ficohsa Foundation already supports, ensuring that those under-served communities are further strengthened and the children’s high quality education continues after pre-school.  The Alliance for Education will address critical infrastructure needs in 12,000 schools.

Media contact: Alejandra Zelaya, alejandra.zelaya@ficohsa.com, +504 9926-5524, www.ficohsa.com

Grupo Financiero Ficohsa is the leading Honduran financial services group, offering banking, insurance, pensions, brokerage and money exchange.  Ficohsa’s innovative online solutions enable customers to carry out their banking at any time or place, expanding financial inclusion across the region.  Ficohsa is a member of the United Nations Global Compact.

The Ficohsa Foundation for Children’s Education is committed to supporting underserved communities across Honduras and Central America.  Since its establishment 25 years ago, the Foundation has transformed the lives of 150,000 pre-school children, trained over 300 teachers, delivered over 12 million meals and created 29 technology centers equipped with over 500 computers in 150 schools in Honduras and Central America.

Ficohsa is partnering with NGO Glasswing International on a Young Impact Leaders project that will support over 1,800 young people in Honduras through payroll donations.  Glasswing operates health, education, migration, and community development programs for vulnerable children throughout Latin America.

The partnership will build on the success of 2022, when Ficohsa collected USD300,000 to enable Glasswing to support over 1,400 young people, helping to stem forced and irregular migration from Honduras of those between 15 and 22 years of age.

Glasswing works in low-income communities where there are high rates of violence, dropout, and most youth have been raised by a single parent or relative other than their biological parents.  Studies have found that students enrolled in Glasswing’s community schools showed improved academic performance, positive behavior changes, increased emotional resilience, and felt they had a better school environment.  Ficohsa is honored to support such an important cause.