QUITO, Ecuador--Twenty-five private banks operating in Ecuador,
plus the state-run Banco del Pacifico, posted a combined $161
million net profit in the first five months of 2012, up 3% from
$156 million in the same period last year, the country's banking
regulator said.
Banco del Pichincha CA (PCH.GU), Banco de Guayaquil, Banco del
Pacifico and Produbanco topped the list, with $40.9 million, $26.2
million, $22.9 million and $14.1 million in earnings, respectively,
according to the report.
The four banks accounted for 65% of the reported combined income
and 63% of Ecuador's banking assets.
Another 6% of the reported income came from foreign banks:
Citigroup Inc. (C), Dutch-German ProCredit and Panama's
Promerica.
According to official data, assets in the banking system totaled
$25.7 billion for the January-May period, while liabilities were
$23.1 billion.
Sight deposits totaled $14.8 billion, term deposits $5.8 billion
and investments $3.5 billion.
-Write to Mercedes Alvaro at mercedes.alvaro@dowjones.com