El Salvador's private banking deposits jump 17% as President Bukele discloses $4.5 million net worth

Private banking deposits in El Salvador increased 17.4% year‑on‑year to $20.768 billion at the end of March 2026, adding $3.09 billion to the sector. Time‑deposit balances grew 19.7% and the number of active accounts reached seven million, a 21% rise, with 1.28 million new savings and checking accounts opened in the past year. Digital finance expanded rapidly, with more than $11 billion transferred in 66 million transactions during the first quarter of 2026; mobile banking activity rose 42% and internet banking 49%.

In a separate development, President Nayib Bukele made public his personal financial statement for the first time since taking office in 2019. The disclosure shows assets of roughly $4.47 million against liabilities of about $94.68 million, giving a net worth of about $4.5 million. The data were posted on the Ministry of Finance portal following the February passage of an anti‑corruption law and at the request of the International Monetary Fund, which is tied to a $1.4 billion loan agreement with the government.