Best bank: Banco Lafise
Banco Lafise delivered profitable growth in 2025, despite broader pressures in the Nicaraguan market. It was the only major bank to increase its return on equity during the review period, up 1.4 percentage points to 17.2%, against a sectoral average of 14.6%.
Banco Lafise’s ‘fortress’ balance sheet strategy and forward looking digital agenda allowed the bank to position itself as a benchmark for sustainable growth in the market.
Disciplined risk management and exceptional liquidity supported performance. The bank reduced its portfolio risk from 5% to 3% in 2025, while maintaining loan loss reserves equal to 251% of non-performing loans. Its capital adequacy ratio stood at 16.3%, comfortably above the regulatory minimum of 13.5%.
Liquidity was a particular strength: Banco Lafise ended 2025 with a 63.5% liquidity ratio, the highest among Nicaragua’s large institutions and well above the industry average. This balance sheet strength underpins customer trust, reflected in BLB’s leadership in savings deposits, where it held the number one position with 32.9% market share.
On digitalisation, the launch of Lafise Digital and Pocket marked a strategic step in modernising the bank’s payment ecosystem, improving customer acquisition and redefining user experience. These platforms provide more agile, secure and modern payment options, shifting customer interaction away from traditional banking channels and toward digital engagement. Their early success is important because it links digital transformation directly to commercial expansion: Banco Lafise reached 1,140,471 active clients by December 2025, up 21.8% year-on-year.
These platforms are primary drivers of financial inclusion and customer engagement, helping it scale relationships while supporting lower cost and more accessible service delivery.
