Financial inclusion and debt relief in Latin America

Financial initiatives in Argentina, Peru, and the Dominican Republic are focusing on expanding credit access and providing debt relief to entrepreneurs and individuals.

In Peru, fintech companies like Prestamype are offering loans to micro and small businesses that may face restrictions from traditional banks due to negative credit ratings. In Argentina, programs such as Córdoba Emprendedora provide interest-free credit lines for supplies and capital goods to various sectors.

Efforts in Argentina have also shifted toward debt regularization. Banco Provincia reported a 382% increase in debt refinancing operations compared to 2025, a trend attributed to macroeconomic issues and declining household incomes. By 2026, the bank’s financial regularization program surpassed 100,000 debt refinancing operations, totaling over $390 billion pesos. The bank’s president, Juan Cuattromo, stated that rising delinquency reflects “systemic economic deterioration rather than individual irresponsibility,” noting that 96% of these operations serve individuals. Additionally, legislative efforts are emerging in Argentina to protect consumers from irresponsible credit, specifically targeting high delinquency among youth and digital wallet users.

In the Dominican Republic, the ‘Tu Firma es Tu Garantía’ program has expanded to provide formal financing to micro-entrepreneurs and women without requiring a guarantor. Through Promipyme, the program recently delivered RD$85 million in credits to 400 micro-entrepreneurs in San Juan. Furthermore, President Luis Abinader launched the National Mechanization Program (PRONAMEC) with an investment exceeding RD$200 million to modernize the agricultural sector through technology and machinery, aiming to increase productivity and reduce reliance on foreign labor.