The average active interest rate of commercial banks went from 14.99% in May 2025 to 13.28% in March 2026, reflecting a decrease of 171 basis points, as stated by the Central Bank in a document prepared by its Department of Regulation and Financial Stability.
A similar behavior, the information states, is observed in savings and loan associations, where the rate was reduced by 211 basis points.
It maintains that the behavior of the interest rate for economic sectors shows important decreases, covering both productive sectors and consumer financing.
“Specifically, the interest rate for financing the productive sectors went from 14.35% in May 2025 to 12.16%” until March of this year, indicate the Central Bank analysts, pointing out that this reduction is reflected in the interest rate of sectors with a high impact on economic activity.
Likewise, it is highlighted that the active rate for wholesale and retail trade showed a decrease of 274 basis points compared to the level registered in May 2025, going from 14.84% to 12.10%.
In the case of the agricultural sector, it indicates that the active rate was lower by 263 basis points, going from 15.94% in May 2025 to 13.31% in March of this year. The same behavior is observed in the manufacturing sector, which registered a decrease of 190 basis points, going from 13.15% in May 2025 to 11.25% in March 2026.
Regarding loans to the construction sector, the analysis indicates that they experienced an “important reduction” of 253 basis points in the interest rate, going from 14.77% to 12.24%.
consumer credits
Regarding personal consumption loans granted by multiple banks, the behavior of the interest rate decreased from 20.18% to 18.39%, about 180 basis points, while for loans intended for the purchase of homes the rate went from 12.14% to 11.71%.
BC economists attribute the reduction in interest rates to the measures implemented to stabilize financial market interest rates at levels lower than 2025.
“The stabilization of the interest rate at levels lower than those observed in 2025 has made it possible to alleviate the financial conditions of companies and households, to the extent that loans granted with high interest rates have been revalued at a lower financial cost for the debtor,” the bank emphasizes, indicating that this fosters an environment of certainty for macroeconomic stability.
