The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic published opening remarks by Governor Héctor Valdez Albizu to FELABAN’s III Latin American Congress of Sustainable and Inclusive Banking, arguing that climate sustainability and financial inclusion in banking systems support financial and macroeconomic stability. He also pointed to ongoing work to strengthen national capacity to assess the economic impact of climate shocks and translate that analysis into financial regulation. Valdez Albizu recalled a non-reimbursable technical cooperation agreement signed in August 2024 with the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development and the French Development Agency, financed by EUR 500,000 in European Union funds, which is now moving into its procurement phase. He cited Dominican banking sector indicators as of end-March 2025, including a 1.6% non-performing loan ratio for multiple banks, 195.1% coverage of overdue loans, return on assets of 2.8%, return on equity of 24.8%, and regulatory solvency of 16.0% against a 10% minimum under the Monetary and Financial Law; central bank stress tests were described as showing buffers sufficient to keep solvency above the 10% minimum even under an extreme climate event and then recover. On inclusion, he highlighted a focus on women entrepreneurs and promoted sessions on the WE Finance Code, noting the Dominican Republic as the first country to formally implement the initiative.
Central Bank of the Dominican Republic 2025-05-14
Central Bank of the Dominican Republic governor links sustainable and inclusive banking to macro stability and cites EUR 500,000 EU-funded climate risk project
The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic's Governor, Héctor Valdez Albizu, emphasized climate sustainability and financial inclusion for stability at FELABAN’s III Latin American Congress. He highlighted a technical cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Economy and the French Development Agency, funded by EUR 500,000 from the EU, now in its procurement phase. Valdez Albizu also reported strong banking sector indicators and stress test results, and promoted the WE Finance Code initiative for women entrepreneurs.