ASK ANY INVESTMENT bank how they view their strategy towards Latin America and the answer is usually the same: we are a pan-regional player, they say. Delve a bit deeper, though, and it’s clear that, with one or two exceptions, no bank has a critical mass across the entire region. Yet as the development of Latin America’s local markets kicks on apace, the leading houses are assessing how best to tackle that growth.
Over the past 12 months, there have been several examples of banks in the region trying to position themselves to take advantage of the budding financial opportunities.
Some have gone for the quick fix of an acquisition. Others are building organically in selected markets. And some are trying to serenade local niche players into some sort of tie-up or informal partnership. Whichever route banks are taking, the region is hitting their radar screens...
