The Peruvian Federation of Municipal Savings and Credit Banks (FEPCMAC) warns about the growing impact of criminality in the country’s microfinance system, pointing out that insecurity is affecting the stability of entities, the trust of users and the expansion of financial inclusion in Peru.
During the press conference, the president of the FEPCMAC, Jorge Solis Espinoza, explained that more than 250 microfinance agencies are at risk of closure due to extortion, threats and attacks in regions such as Lima Norte, Piura, La Libertad and Ica.
“Crime is threatening the microfinance system and affecting the population’s trust in formal financial institutions. Without security there is no inclusion or development,” said Solís Espinoza.
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), more than 30% of the urban population has been the victim of a crime between February and July 2025, with robbery and extortion being the most frequent. In turn, the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP) estimates that crime costs the country 2.2% of annual GDP, affecting investment, consumption and productivity.
The study presented by the FEPCMAC shows that the informal “drop by drop” type loan already mobilizes more than S/ 4,000 million, consolidating a “parallel banking” that feeds on fear and lack of security in the formal system. Likewise, 81% of
Peruvians recognize that insecurity influences their financial decisions, a figure that rises to 90% in Lima (PuntoEdu PUCP, 2025).
The impact is also reflected in the most sensitive economic sectors. According to data from the SBS Statistical Bulletin (August 2025), real estate credit fell 13.1%, construction credit 3.2% and education credit 3.5%, while the transportation sector barely grew 0.3%. Meanwhile, MYPEs lose more than S/ 6,000 million annually due to extortion, and more than 2,600 wineries closed in Lima alone during 2024 due to violence and threats.
If urgent measures are not adopted, the FEPCMAC projects that financial inclusion could go back up to five years, with losses of S/ 10,000 million in loans, while informal loans could exceed S/ 6,000 million in 2026.
Faced with this situation, the institution proposes joint action by the State and regulatory bodies to safeguard the stability of the financial system and the safety of workers:
• Repeal of pro-crime regulations and dictate more drastic regulations for an effective fight against crime: Faceless judges, summary trials, among other measures.
• State guarantees for credits in high-risk areas.
• Secure digitization and promotion of the use of electronic wallets with education
financial.
• Protection of credit analysts and workers in the financial system.
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