Banco Nacional de Costa Rica

Banco Nacional de Costa Rica or BICSA is the largest commercial bank in Costa Rica and the second largest in Central America by assets.

It has a 49% stake in Banco de Costa Rica International Limited (BICSA), incorporated with the Republic of Panama entity, and 100% of the shares of BN-Securities (Stock Exchange Market), BN-Vital (Operator owner pension fund), BN-SAFI (Mutual Funds) and BN insurance broker. in January 2013, the Fitch Ratings classified Banco Nacional de Costa Rica as an 'AA + (cri)' class bank.

History

Banco de Costa Rica was founded on April 20, 1877 to take part in private and public activities in the country. Due to a clear competitive advantage, just seven months after it was founded it obtained its first dividend of approximately 13% of its capital.

It issued the first loan to the Government in 1878, and in 1879 it financed the first railroad, which began a monumental relationship between the public and private sectors.

Being as it was on the leading edge of social and economic developments in the country, in 1883 the bank had its first female employee and by 1886 it reached a historical banking milestone when it had five women employees.^[2] In 1884 it led the baking modernization that generated the Soto-Ortuño contract, which made the bank the first and only money issuer for many years.

During its first 100 years this institution boosted Costa Rica’s economic and social development by financing power plants, pipelines, highways, schools, and hospitals. At the same time it provided loans to small and mid-sized businesses and supported cultural, educational, sporting, and health projects that were all aimed at improving the quality of life for the citizens of this country.

In 1948 the Founding Council of the Second Republic decreed the nationalization of banking, and since then the bank has been integrated with the national banking system and defined as an autonomous financial institution, in accordance with Article 189 of the 1949 Political Constitution of the Republic of Costa Rica.

In 1956 different offices (previously known as “branches”) were opened in strategic points throughout the country to begin a process of decentralization. In 1965 the BCR created the Industrial Credit Division and financed the country’s sugar production and agro-industrial expansion by issuing important loans to entities in agriculture, livestock, and industry.

In the final decades of the 20th century it promoted loans to import automobiles. It also stood out for its technological innovation in the financial sector when it installed its first ATM, issued its first debit card, and created its first drive-through bank. It is actively involved with the National Basic Crops Program, has founded the BICSA bank, has created the first Corporate Banking Division, and has initiated a series of strategic alliances with the Government. One alliance in 2012 is with the National Registry; using the Banco de Costa Rica’s technological platform and its network of offices throughout the country, it has helped improve the processes to obtain and renew passports, driver’s licenses, and residency permits, as well as other different registry services. With the Registry, the bank has helped its clients and the general public integrate themselves into modern technological society.

Offices

Panama - Bicsa Financial Center, Panama city
Costa Rica - Plaza Salamanca Building (Orosi Guancaste), San José
USA - 4000 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Miami

See also

• Central Bank of Costa Rica

References