Question 1

What is Bancamía?

Accepted Answer

Bancamía is Colombia's first microfinance bank created exclusively to serve micro-entrepreneurs and vulnerable populations through specialized financial products and services. Part of the Fundación Microfinanzas BBVA network, Bancamía combines microfinance expertise with the backing of a major international financial group to promote financial inclusion and productive development.

The bank operates under a "Productive Finance" model that integrates financial services with training and support, helping vulnerable individuals progress through income generated from their productive activities. Bancamía particularly emphasizes women's economic empowerment, with over 70% of its clients being female entrepreneurs.

Question 2

When was Bancamía founded?

Accepted Answer

Bancamía was officially established on October 14, 2008, as the result of a merger between Corporación Mundial de la Mujer Colombia, Corporación Mundial de la Mujer Medellín, and Fundación Microfinanzas BBVA. This merger brought together decades of microfinance experience to create Colombia's first bank dedicated exclusively to microfinance.

At launch, Bancamía inherited a customer base of over 170,000 micro-entrepreneurs and a loan portfolio of 336 billion Colombian pesos. The constituent organizations had roots dating back several decades in Colombia's microfinance sector, with particular emphasis on serving women entrepreneurs and informal economy participants.

Question 3

Where is Bancamía headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Bancamía is headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, where the bank maintains its central administrative and strategic operations. As part of the Fundación Microfinanzas BBVA network, Bancamía coordinates with the foundation's broader Latin American operations while maintaining operational autonomy in Colombia.

The bank's headquarters coordinates activities across Colombia's extensive branch network and provides strategic direction for the institution's microfinance programs and product development.

Question 4

Where does Bancamía operate?

Accepted Answer

Bancamía operates throughout Colombia with approximately 200 offices covering 29 departments and reaching more than 950 municipalities. This extensive geographic coverage allows the bank to serve both urban micro-entrepreneurs and rural populations in remote areas where traditional financial services are scarce.

The bank's operational model emphasizes field presence, with loan officers working directly in communities and visiting clients at their businesses. This approach enables Bancamía to serve frontier regions and underserved municipalities, contributing significantly to financial inclusion in areas with limited banking infrastructure.

Question 5

What services does Bancamía offer?

Accepted Answer

Bancamía specializes in microcredit products designed for micro-enterprises including working capital loans, business expansion financing, agricultural credit, and asset acquisition financing. The bank offers flexible payment schedules adapted to business cash flows, recognizing that many micro-entrepreneurs lack regular income patterns.

Savings products include traditional savings accounts and fixed-term deposit certificates (CDTs). The bank provides microinsurance products, housing loans, and home improvement financing tailored to low-income populations.

Beyond financial services, Bancamía offers business training and financial education programs, having capacitated over 87,000 clients in marketing, planning, savings, and responsible borrowing. The bank's relational banking approach emphasizes long-term relationships with personalized attention, maintaining field advisors who understand each client's business reality.

Question 6

What makes Bancamía unique?

Accepted Answer

Bancamía is unique as Colombia's first and only bank created exclusively for microfinance, operating with a specialized methodology distinct from traditional commercial banking. The bank's commitment to women's economic empowerment is demonstrated through its client base, where approximately 70% are female entrepreneurs.

As part of the Fundación Microfinanzas BBVA network, Bancamía benefits from international microfinance best practices and the financial backing of BBVA, one of Europe's largest banking groups. This combination provides operational expertise with financial stability uncommon in the microfinance sector.

Impact studies demonstrate Bancamía's effectiveness: on average, 42% of clients rise out of poverty after three years, micro-entrepreneurs record 19% sales growth and 29% asset growth, and clients show improvements in housing conditions and education levels. The bank's social purpose is embedded in its operational model, prioritizing inclusive development alongside financial sustainability.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Bancamía?

Accepted Answer

Bancamía is a specialized commercial bank (banco comercial especializado) dedicated exclusively to microfinance, supervised by the Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia. The bank operates as a regulated banking establishment with authorization to accept deposits and extend credit.

Unlike universal commercial banks that serve diverse market segments, Bancamía concentrates specifically on micro-entrepreneurs and vulnerable populations, using specialized assessment methodologies based on business potential and character rather than traditional collateral or credit history. This specialization allows the bank to serve market segments systematically excluded from conventional banking.

As a member of the Fundación Microfinanzas BBVA network, Bancamía operates with a dual mission: achieving financial sustainability while maximizing social impact through financial inclusion and productive development of underserved populations in Colombia.

Bancamía

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About Bancamía in Colombia