La Jornada: Development banking profits drop 34% in February: CNBV

Development banks began the year with unfavorable results in an environment marked by the slowdown of the economy and an international context that is still under pressure.

At the close of the first two months, the balance reflects this lower dynamism: both credit and profits showed declines, according to information from the National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV).

According to official information, at the end of February, the profits of the sector, made up of Nacional Financiera (Nafin), the National Bank of Public Works and Services (Banobras), the National Bank of Foreign Trade (Bancomext), the Federal Mortgage Society (SHF), the Banco del Bienestar and the National Bank of the Army, Air Force and Navy (Banjército), totaled 4,549 million pesos.

The figure was 34.53 percent lower in real terms compared to the 6,679 million reported in the first two months of 2025.

On the credit side, the balance of the total portfolio stood at one trillion 316 thousand 313 million pesos at the end of the second month of the year, which implied a real annual decrease of 1.23 percent.

In the Mexican financial system, development banking plays a strategic role by channeling resources to sectors and activities that, due to their level of risk or low profitability, are usually outside the reach of commercial banks.

Through direct credit, guarantees and structured financing schemes, these institutions promote infrastructure projects, housing, foreign trade and the growth of small and medium-sized businesses, which contributes to expanding the country’s productive base.

Their function is also key in times of lower economic dynamism, since they act as a countercyclical mechanism by facilitating access to financing under more favorable conditions.

With this, they seek to sustain investment, promote financial inclusion and support regional development, in line with public policy objectives aimed at strengthening economic growth and reducing structural gaps.

Despite this strategic role within the financial system, the results of the first two months reflect a weak performance for development banks.

By institution, the results were mixed within development banks. Banobras reported profits of 934 million pesos, a figure that implied a drop of 31.13 percent in real terms.

In turn, Banjército obtained 663 million pesos, with a decrease of 9.77 percent, while Bancomext registered profits of 529, with a decrease of 41.48 percentage points, all in the annual comparison.

Nafin reported a loss of 129 million pesos, as did Banco del Bienestar, which recorded a negative result of 149.

Regarding credit, Banobras concentrated the largest balance with 686 thousand 75 million pesos, which represented a real annual increase of 2.72 percent. Nafin followed, with a portfolio of 283,832, with a growth of 8.04.

Finally, Bancomext reported a balance of 297 thousand 52 million pesos, with a real annual decrease of 4.74 percent, while Banjército registered 49 thousand 354, with a decrease of 1.78.