SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION CRR 2008
Corporate Responsibility Report 2008
16
FINANCIAL INCLUSION
BANKING PENETRATION PLAN FOR LATIN AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
The following are a number of other specific examples within this plan:
• Agente Express (BBVA Banco Continental, Peru), a model of correspondent tellers that can be used for
making cash deposits and withdrawals, credit card and invoice payments, as well as for ordering
transfers and checking accounts. In turn, Agente Express Plus complements the specific services of
Agente Express by catering for the payment of loans and the purchase of pre-paid phone cards. At yearend
2008 there are 518 Agente Express and 40 Plus.
• Cuenta Básica (BBVA Banco Francés), a basic account designed for private individuals with no prior
banking experience.
• Préstamoexpress (BBVA Panamá): a loan centre designed to extend banking penetration amongst those
customers from lower-income groups with a view to streamlining the lending process and reducing
response times.
«Non- Banking Correspondents», a new form of banking usage in Colombia
In those countries in the region in which levels of banking usage, or bancarisation, are still very low, and especially in those
areas and villages that are beyond the reach of its branch network, BBVA is present through the figure of «Non-banking
Correspondents», an efficient way of providing banking services to all segments of the population.
For users, the «Non-banking Correspondent» is a way of drawing them closer to the bank, removing surcharges in financial
operations, reducing travel times and, in short, facilitating their access to the financial system.
The business or retail outlet that acts as Correspondent is paid a commission by BBVA for each transaction made and,
furthermore, it attracts a greater number of customers onto its premises. These agents enable BBVA to extend its presence and
free up its branch offices.
These service points have a positive impact on the quality of life for a part of the population that, given its remoteness and the
scant offer available, did not use financial services, and they contribute to the economic progress and development of local
communities. It is precisely for these reasons that BBVA intends to continue expanding its network of «Non-Banking
Correspondents».
Accordingly, new points came into service in 2008, bringing the total at the year-end to 50 Correspondents, with their
operations being framed within the governmental programme for banking opportunities «Banca de las Oportunidades».
Many of the points that began operating in 2008 are part of strategic alliances forged between BBVA Colombia and entities
such as the energy utility Empresa de Energía del Quindío, the telephone company Lessa Ltda. and the hypermarket chain
Olímpica.
There has been a significant increase in the volume of transactions undertaken through these agents, with withdrawals and
deposits involving current and savings accounts being the most widely used services, followed by credit card payments and loan
repayments. The feedback on the use of these services is extremely positive, as between January and December last year the
«Non-Banking Correspondents» network recorded transactions amounting to 33,243 billion pesos in the form of 117,118
operations.
The points that have recorded the highest turnover are those located in the towns of Chinú and San Andrés de Sotavento in
Córdoba, Barrancabermeja in Santander and Necoclí in Antioquia.
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