Since the first quarter of 2010, the Central Bank of Ecuador has conducted the Credit Supply and Demand Outlook Survey (ETOD), targeting private banks, mutual savings and loan associations, and savings and credit cooperatives (Segments 1 to 4).
During the second quarter of 2026, private financial institutions (PFIs) reported an increase in credit demand, while credit approval standards remained slightly tighter. Expectations for the third quarter point to an increase in financing applications and a moderation of approval restrictions, particularly among private banks. These results were obtained by the Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE) through the Credit Supply and Demand Outlook Survey (ETOD), conducted between July 7 and 17, 2026, with the participation of 23 private banks, 334 savings and credit cooperatives, and four mutual savings and loan associations.
Private banks reported an increase in demand for new credit applications and expect this trend to continue during the following quarter. Meanwhile, cooperatives and mutual savings and loan associations also recorded an increase and anticipate further expansion in the third quarter.
Regarding credit supply, PFIs perceived a slight tightening of standards for approving new credit applications. For the third quarter, they expect these restrictions to remain in place.
When analyzed by type of institution, banks recorded the lowest level of restrictions and expect to ease approval standards during the next quarter. In contrast, cooperatives and mutual savings and loan associations reported adjustments to their approval conditions and expect this trend to continue. According to the perception of these financial institutions, the main factors contributing to the tightening of approval policies were the economic environment and its outlook, regulatory changes, and the perceived risk associated with the portfolios of current or potential customers.
By credit segment, restrictions among private banks were concentrated in productive credit, although expectations point to a relaxation of conditions for this portfolio during the following quarter. Among cooperatives and mutual savings and loan associations, the greatest restrictions were identified in the productive and microcredit segments; meanwhile, for the third quarter, these institutions expect to exercise greater control over microcredit and consumer credit.
Regarding the factors driving demand for financing, PFIs indicated that, in the case of businesses, the increase in applications for productive credit and microcredit was mainly driven by the need to invest in working capital and by customers’ economic conditions. Among households, the higher demand for consumer and housing loans was associated with financing needs, the Consumer Confidence Index, and the acquisition of fixed assets and vehicles.
In accordance with its mandate, the BCE conducts this survey to monitor credit supply and demand outlooks among institutions within Ecuador’s national financial system.
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