Question 1

What is Compartamos Banco?

Accepted Answer

Compartamos Banco is a leading microfinance bank in Peru, specializing in providing financial services to underserved populations, particularly microentrepreneurs and low-income individuals. The bank is part of Gentera, a Mexican financial group with extensive experience in microfinance across Latin America.

With over 1.39 million clients and presence in 23 regions throughout Peru, Compartamos Banco focuses on financial inclusion by offering accessible credit, savings, and insurance products with a human-centered approach. The bank operates through 127 branches nationwide and employs over 6,900 staff members dedicated to serving communities traditionally excluded from the formal banking system.

Question 2

When was Compartamos Banco founded?

Accepted Answer

Compartamos Banco in Peru traces its origins to 1992, when it began as ONG Hábitat Arequipa Siglo XXI, a non-profit organization created by Arequipa entrepreneurs to provide dignified housing for migrants and low-income groups.

In 1998, the organization transformed into Edpyme Crear Arequipa to support small and microenterprises. By 2000, it became the first provincial microfinance institution to expand to Lima, Peru's capital, marking a historic milestone in the country's microfinance sector.

The institution became Financiera CREAR in 2009. In 2011, it was acquired by Mexico's Compartamos S.A.B. de C.V. (now Gentera), bringing international expertise and capital to the Peruvian operation. In 2013, it rebranded as Compartamos Financiera, and on January 31, 2025, the Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (SBS) granted it a full banking license, allowing it to operate as Compartamos Banco.

Question 3

Where is Compartamos Banco headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Compartamos Banco is headquartered in Lima, Peru. The bank relocated its administrative operations from Arequipa to Lima in 2017, initially to the northern zone of Lima before establishing its main offices in Miraflores, a key commercial district of the capital.

While the headquarters are in Lima, the bank maintains strong ties to Arequipa, where it was originally founded and first developed its microfinance expertise.

Question 4

Where does Compartamos Banco operate?

Accepted Answer

Compartamos Banco operates in 23 of Peru's 25 regions, with a network of 127 branches, business centers, and satellite offices distributed throughout the country. The bank has strategically expanded to reach both urban and rural areas, including historically underserved zones.

Recent expansion includes new branches in Abancay, Pichanaqui, Chachapoyas, and Bambamarca. Since 2019, the bank has extended its presence to Peru's eastern regions, ensuring comprehensive national coverage to bring financial services to microentrepreneurs and families across the diverse Peruvian territory.

Question 5

What services does Compartamos Banco offer?

Accepted Answer

Compartamos Banco offers a comprehensive range of financial services tailored to microentrepreneurs and individuals traditionally excluded from the banking system:

Credit Products:
• Crédito Mujer (Women's Credit): Group loans for women entrepreneurs with solidarity guarantees
• Crédito Comerciante (Merchant Credit): Group credit for small business owners
• Crédito Individual (Individual Credit): Personal loans for larger business investments
• Crédito Mejora tu Casa (Home Improvement Credit): Financing for housing construction or renovation

Savings and Investment:
• Savings accounts with competitive interest rates
• Fixed-term deposits (DPF)
• CTS accounts (Compensación por Tiempo de Servicios)

Insurance:
• Life insurance
• Comprehensive insurance products

Digital Services:
• Compartamos App: Mobile banking platform for account management, transfers, credit payments, and loan disbursements
• BIM: Digital wallet allowing users to send and receive money, pay bills, make purchases via QR codes, recharge mobile phones, and manage transactions without traditional bank accounts. BIM is interoperable with other digital wallets like Yape and Plin
• Compartamos Impulsa: Educational platform providing financial literacy content about credit, savings, and money management

The bank also operates an ecosystem that includes Creditienda (a marketplace) and Aterna as part of its integrated service offering.

Question 6

What makes Compartamos Banco unique?

Accepted Answer

Compartamos Banco distinguishes itself through several key characteristics:

Financial Inclusion Focus: The bank has successfully brought over 430,000 people into the formal financial system in just the last five years, demonstrating an exceptional commitment to bancarization and financial inclusion in Peru.

Human-Centered Philosophy: Compartamos places "the person at the center" of all decisions and actions, emphasizing dignity, service, responsibility, passion, teamwork, and profitability as core values. This philosophy guides their close, personalized relationships with clients throughout the entire credit cycle.

Group Lending Model: The bank pioneered group lending methodologies in Peru, particularly through its Crédito Mujer program, which uses solidarity guarantees to provide collateral-free loans to women entrepreneurs, creating support networks and shared responsibility.

Digital Innovation: With the BIM digital wallet and comprehensive mobile banking app, Compartamos offers a complete digital ecosystem that enables financial transactions without requiring traditional bank infrastructure, making services accessible to populations with limited banking experience.

Workplace Recognition: Since 2017, Compartamos has maintained Great Place to Work certification, reflecting its commitment to employee satisfaction and creating a positive organizational culture that translates to better customer service.

Rapid Growth and Scale: From reaching its first million clients in October 2023 to transforming from a financiera to a full bank in January 2025, Compartamos has demonstrated exceptional growth while maintaining its social mission.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Compartamos Banco?

Accepted Answer

Compartamos Banco is a commercial microfinance bank (Banco Especializado en Microfinanzas) in Peru. As of January 31, 2025, it holds a full banking license granted by the Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (SBS), Peru's banking regulator.

This classification represents an evolution from its previous status as a financiera (finance company). As a specialized microfinance bank, Compartamos is authorized to offer the full spectrum of banking services including deposits, credit, insurance, and payment services, while maintaining its core focus on serving microentrepreneurs and low-income populations.

The bank operates under Peruvian banking regulations while being part of the larger Gentera financial group, which specializes in microfinance operations across Latin America. This institutional type is specifically designed to support financial inclusion by providing regulated banking services to market segments traditionally underserved by conventional commercial banks.

Compartamos Banco

in Peru 🇵🇪

Crypto-Friendliness

All done!

About Compartamos Banco in Peru