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Business and Economics > Banks and Banking

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 32 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines x
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Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Eastern Caribbean Currency Union: 2019 Discussion on Common Policies of Member Countries-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
This paper presents IMF’s 2019 Discussion on Common Policies of Member Countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). ECCU’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth accelerated from 3/4 percent in 2017 to 3 3/4 percent in 2018, reflecting buoyancy in the tourism sector, sizable Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) inflows, and a recovery from the 2017 hurricanes in Anguilla and Dominica, which were supported by large public investments in reconstruction. Fiscal deficits increased in 2018–2019, but they have remained moderate. Efforts are needed to streamline, and re-balance tax incentives based on clear principles consistent with international best practices. External imbalances are sizable and significant financial sector vulnerabilities affect both banks and non-banks. Growth is projected to gradually moderate toward its long-term average of 2 1/4 percent as the cyclical momentum normalizes and CBI inflows ease. These trends would also contribute to wider fiscal deficits, ending the downward drift in public debt dynamics. The outlook is clouded by downside risks, including a possible intensification of natural disasters and financial sector weaknesses.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; authority; ECCB authority; e-government platform; ECCU price aggregate; article IV consultation discussion; ECCU region; ECCU country; ECCU work program; Digital currencies; Natural disasters; Tax incentives; Credit bureaus; Caribbean; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Eastern Caribbean Currency Union: 2017 Discussion on Common Policies of Member Countries-Press Release and Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
This paper discusses key points of 2017 Discussions on Common Policies of Member Countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). Favorable external conditions continue to support economic recovery in the ECCU, but flat tourism receipts and falling revenues from citizenship programs have weakened growth. The fiscal position has deteriorated slightly, and public debt remains high. Despite progress on financial sector reform, bank lending continues to decline while indigenous banks’ profitability is adversely impacted by increasing costs to secure correspondent banking relationships. The short-term outlook is favorable and risks are broadly balanced, but strong structural policies are needed to address impediments to medium-term growth.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; ECCU country; cost; legislation; director; country authorities; growth prospect; reducing cost; financing arrangement; tourism inflow; Natural disasters; Fiscal rules; Credit bureaus; Credit; Caribbean; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Non-Performing Loans in the ECCU: Determinants and Macroeconomic Impact
Ms. Kimberly Beaton
,
Ms. Alla Myrvoda
, and
Shernnel Thompson
This paper assesses the determinants of NPLs in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) and whether a deterioration in asset quality may result in negative feedback effects from the banking system to economic activity. The results suggest that the deterioration in asset quality can be attributed to both macroeconomic and bank-specific factors. Banks with stronger profitability and lower exposure to the construction sector and household loans tend to have lower NPLs. Further, some evidence indicates that foreign owned banks systematically have lower NPLs than domestic banks, pointing to the presence of important differences across bank practices with an impact on asset quality. Finally, the results emphasize the strength of macrofinancial feedback loops in the ECCU.
Keywords:
WP; asset quality; NPL ratio; real GDP; dummy variable; Macrofinancial linkages; non-performing loans; credit growth; feedback effects; force bank; return on assets; ownership structure; economic activity; coverage data sets; bank asset quality; resolution process; Nonperforming loans; Foreign banks; Credit; Loans; Commercial banks; Global; Caribbean
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Eastern Caribbean Currency Union: 2016 Discussion on Common Policies of Member Countries-Press Release and Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
This IMF Staff Report for the 2016 Discussion on Common Policies of Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) Member Countries highlights that the regional recovery in ECCU is gaining ground, supported by continued low oil prices, strong tourism arrivals, and robust citizenship-by-investment receipts. Risks to the near-term outlook are balanced, but growth in the ECCU continues to be hindered by weak competitiveness, banking sector fragilities, susceptibility to natural disasters, and large public debt. The Executive Directors have encouraged the authorities to press ahead with sound macroeconomic policies and structural reforms to decisively address these issues and strengthen the conditions for robust long term growth.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; Anguilla CARTAC; country authorities; ECCU; aggregate; discussion; ECCU price aggregate; ECCU well; FAD tax mission; ECCU aggregate; CARTAC framework; Natural disasters; Commercial banks; Interest rate parity; Caribbean; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
St. Vincent and the Grenadines: 2016 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
This 2016 Article IV Consultation highlights that St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ recovery from the global financial crisis was hampered by a series of natural disasters, sluggish global demand, and slow implementation of key infrastructure projects. Economic activity appears to have recovered in 2015, led by strong tourism inflows and a rebound in construction. Inflation has trended down owing to falling food and fuel prices. The new airport, now foreseen for completion in 2016, is expected to sustain the near- and medium-term economic growth. Real GDP is projected to expand by 2.2 percent in 2016 and reach 3.1 percent over the medium term.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; private sector; deficit; wage bill; debt service; article IV consultation mission; incipient economic recovery; debt target; offshore banking sector; Fiscal stance; Natural disasters; Caribbean; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Staff Report for the 2012 Article IV Consultation
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
KEY ISSUES Background: Activity is slowly recovering after a cumulative decline of about 5 percent during 2008–10. Expansionary fiscal policies—largely to counteract the impact of the global slowdown and the two successive natural disasters—led to a deterioration in fiscal balances, with public debt up by about 10½ percent of GDP over this period. The fiscal deficit, however, is expected to narrow this year, largely reflecting cuts in capital spending. In the financial sector, non performing loans remain above prudential guidelines; provisioning and profitability are low; and supervision remains weak. Policy Challenges: Further fiscal consolidation—including by rebalancing government expenditure toward growth and employment generating public sector projects—is required to ensure medium-term sustained growth as well as keep public sector debt on a downward trajectory. In this regard, improving the efficiency of revenue collection and reducing current spending—especially on the wage bill, which is high relative to revenues—will be crucial to allow the government to maneuver fiscal policy. Financial sector weaknesses also need to be addressed, including through strengthening of supervisory and regulatory standards, to promote effective financial intermediation that supports private sector growth. Structural reforms, including infrastructure enhancements and labor market reforms are critical to improve competitiveness and ensure medium-term growth and current account sustainability.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; current account; debt; deficit; real GDP; private sector credit growth; debt service; broad money; flows shock; economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Financial sector; Capital spending; Caribbean; Global; North America; Northern Europe
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Eastern Caribbean Currency Union: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund
The Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) has made significant progress in improving the quality and quantity of the macroeconomic statistics it produces and disseminates to the public. The Selected Issues Paper discusses prospects and challenges for credit unions in the ECCU. It reviews the current state of macroeconomic statistics, outlines progress that has been made, and identifies outstanding challenges. It also describes technical assistance to the region and presents the challenges for the production of macroeconomic statistics in small island states.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; credit union; ECCU country; credit union sector; loan; ECCU member states; credit union membership; harmonized credit union legislation; Credit bureaus; Commercial banks; Consumer price indexes; Monetary statistics; Caribbean; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Request for Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility
International Monetary Fund
The Executive Board of the IMF has approved a disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 2.075 million under the Rapid Credit Facility for St. Vincent and the Grenadines to help the country manage the economic impact of Hurricane Tomas. The Board’s approval enables the immediate disbursement of the full amount. The late-October 2010 hurricane inflicted significant damage to agriculture, housing, and infrastructure. The initial assessment conducted by the government estimated the cost of damage at 5 percent of gross domestic product.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; credit facility informational annex; facility; debt; balance of payments difficulty; GDP; disbursement of an amount equivalent; facility informational annex; discussion of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Fiscal stance; Natural disasters; Public and publicly-guaranteed external debt; Caribbean; North America; Northern Europe; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Eastern Caribbean Currency Union: 2010 Discussion on Common Policies of Members Countries—Staff Report; Informational Annex, and the Public Information Notice on the Executive Board Discussion
International Monetary Fund
Real regional gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 6 percent in 2009, reflecting a collapse in tourist arrivals and foreign direct investment (FDI)-financed construction activity. The global financial and economic crisis has also exposed areas of significant weaknesses, notwithstanding reforms implemented by a number of member countries. Executive Directors concurred that the urgent challenge is fiscal consolidation. They noted IMF staff’s assessment that the real effective exchange rate (REER) appears broadly in line with current fundamentals.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; ECCU country; ECCU region; financial crisis; economic crisis; OECS Financial; ECCU government; ECCU aggregate; ECCU member; Commercial banks; Public sector; Government debt management; Caribbean; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Detailed Assessment Report on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism
International Monetary Fund
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is exposed to money laundering (ML) and financing of terrorism (FT) risk related to drug trafficking and international criminal groups. The financing of terrorism has also been criminalized and is largely in conformity with the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (SFT) Convention. The legal and institutional framework regarding the cross-border transportation of cash and bearer instruments is largely in place. The preventive measures regime covers most of the financial and designated nonfinancial businesses and professions (DNFBP) sectors as required under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; POCA regulation; economic activity; business activity; CFT supervision; criminal offense; banking sector; financial institution; mutual fund; material information; CFT compliance; regulatory authority; executive director; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Money laundering; Mutual funds; Legal support in revenue administration; Foreign banks; Caribbean