Created in 1997, Banrural S.A. is an example for financial institutions whose mission is to serve the development of their country. It is result of work of different actors from society – the state, the cooperatives, Mayan organizations, NGOs, medium, small and micro-enterprises, and the people in general. The model has been developed for the advancement of economic and social development in the rural areas of Guatemala by making it easier to save and stimulating savings, providing credit assistance, and providing the benefit of other financial services. For this, the people involved have worked to transform the state-bank (BANDESA) into a private one (Banrural S.A).
The bank formally began operations on 2 January 1998, as a joint-stock company of mixed character, with the organised participation of many sectors. From its inception, it aimed to be involved with rural life beyond the agricultural sector – offering a broad range of financial services to its clients.
Banrural S.A. is today a solid organization that is helping to transform the Guatemalan society and the economy of the poorer areas – strengthening the processes of economic integration.
Currently, due to the growth of the market, the confidence of its clients, and the aim of satisfying the banking and financial services needs for more than four million Guatemalans, Banrural S.A. has become “Financial Group Banrural”, as of 28 November 2007.
With a network of more than 680 agencies throughout the country and with more than four million clients in all of Guatemala, Banrural S.A. today is an institution and a friend which facilitates the growth of the economy for millions of Guatemalan households.