Financial Crime World

Here is the article in markdown format:

Ecuador’s Economy and Financial Sector: Key Takeaways

The text does not provide a specific question that can be answered with a one-word response. However, we can identify the main points and themes presented in the document.

Economic Growth

  • Ecuador’s economy has slowed down after rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The country experienced 0.7 percent growth in the first quarter of 2023.

Financial Sector Stability

  • The financial sector has remained stable, but banks’ average capital ratios are around 15 percent.
  • Non-performing loans (NPLs) are moderate.

Limited Financial Inclusion

  • Ecuador’s Financial Development Index ranks it 133 out of 192 countries in 2019.
  • This indicates limited development of services to reach underserved and financially excluded segments.

Public Banks and Asset Quality Review

  • Public banks have significantly higher NPLs than private banks.
  • However, they have undergone an asset quality review (AQR) recently.