Americas: Top 100 Banks In Latin America - Brazilians Score The Most - Steady Growth In Latin...

Byline: TERRY BAKER-SELF

Brazilian banks again dominate in the 2006 listing of the Top 100 Latin American banks both in numbers, 27, and in shares in the aggregate figures for Tier 1 capital, 51.2%, assets, 53.7%, and pre-tax profits, 56.0%.

The Brazilian economy continues to grow steadily and, as a consequence, loan books have increased significantly, leading to increased profitability in the banking sector. Mexico's eight banks in the listing contributed 22.2%, 17.8% and 24.1% of the same aggregates, while the numerically stronger countries, Chile (13 bank