By San José, Costa Rica — Banco Promerica Costa Rica has released its comprehensive 2025 Sustainability Report, showcasing a robust integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics into its core business model. Operating under the strategic banner of “Sustainability for innovation: designing the banking of the future,” the financial institution is actively aligning its current capital allocation with the developmental needs of incoming generations. The report outlines how modern banking must evolve to equip businesses with the digital and financial tools necessary to navigate future climate and economic challenges.
The financial metrics for the fiscal year ending in 2025 underscore a significant pivot toward green assets. Sustainable financing accounted for an impressive 44% of the bank’s total portfolio, excluding the consumer loan sector. Within this framework, the specialized green portfolio achieved a 21% share of the total portfolio, directly servicing 1,133 distinct clients. These funds were primarily directed toward the acquisition of photovoltaic energy systems, low-emission vehicles, and advanced energy efficiency technologies designed to lower corporate carbon footprints.
As Costa Rica continues to position itself as a global leader in green initiatives, the financial sector is facing new regulatory and operational paradigms. To better understand the evolving legal framework of sustainable banking in the country, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a leading legal expert from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s push towards sustainable banking is not just an environmental statement, but a robust legal evolution. Financial institutions are increasingly required to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into their risk assessments and credit portfolios. Aligning with these international green compliance standards ensures long-term viability and positions our local banks as trustworthy partners in the global green economy.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, this transition from voluntary green initiatives to a structured, mandatory legal framework is what truly secures Costa Rica’s standing in the global financial market, proving that environmental stewardship and robust economic growth are deeply interconnected. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable perspective on how these regulatory evolutions are successfully reshaping our nation’s banking sector.
This strategic emphasis on sustainable growth is designed to deliver immediate economic benefits while safeguarding future ecological resources. According to leadership, every credit decision represents a pivotal moment to guide commercial clients toward cleaner, more resilient operational models.
Designing the banking of the future means asking ourselves what people and businesses will need to thrive, and how we must accompany them from this moment forward. Every financing decision is an opportunity to drive that transformation and contribute to ensuring that today’s growth generates opportunities for future generations.
Ernesto Leal, CEO of Banco Promerica Costa Rica
Beyond direct lending, Banco Promerica has established itself as a regional trailblazer in sustainable debt instruments. The bank manages a $50 million sustainable bond program, of which $49.7 million has been actively deployed since 2021. These funds have been channeled into green initiatives and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a particular emphasis on businesses spearheaded by female entrepreneurs. This localized effort is backed by international validation, as Promerica became the first commercial bank in Latin America to receive official accreditation from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), opening new avenues for financing resilient housing and electric mobility.
The bank’s management emphasizes that financial institutions must act as active partners in their clients’ ecological transitions, rather than mere capital providers. This relationship-driven approach ensures that investments yield long-term corporate viability.
Sustainability for innovation begins by understanding what a client needs to move forward and remain viable. It could be an investment to optimize energy use or financing to transform their operations. Our role is to connect those needs with solutions that strengthen their business and generate value over time.
Michelle Espinach, Sustainable Banking Manager of Banco Promerica Costa Rica
Social and technological transformation also marked the bank’s 2025 performance. Promerica reported an extraordinary 730% growth in its digital banking user base across its web and mobile platforms between 2024 and 2025. Simultaneously, the bank prioritized educational outreach, training 3,377 individuals across 92 financial education workshops, with women representing 58% of the participants. Furthermore, the bank’s specialized employability initiative successfully graduated 124 individuals, while female leaders directed over 36% of the SMEs supported by the bank.
From a regulatory and governance perspective, Banco Promerica Costa Rica has solidified its role as a benchmark institution. In 2025, the bank executed a comprehensive double materiality study to assess both its external environmental impacts and internal sustainability risks. Recognizing this advanced governance structure, the General Superintendency of Financial Entities (SUGEF) selected the bank to participate as a pilot entity for Costa Rica’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy. Promerica has also moved forward with the adoption of IFRS S1 and S2 reporting standards, enhancing transparency for global investors.
Ultimately, the data from the 2025 report positions Banco Promerica not just as a financial intermediary, but as a crucial architect of Costa Rica’s green economy. By proving that sustainable investment portfolios can drive commercial success, the bank offers a scalable blueprint for the wider Latin American banking sector.
For further information, visit promerica.fi.cr
About Banco Promerica Costa Rica:
Banco Promerica Costa Rica is a leading financial institution dedicated to fostering sustainable economic growth and innovation. As a member of Grupo Promerica, the bank has pioneered green financing, becoming the first commercial bank in Latin America accredited by the Green Climate Fund. Through its diverse portfolio of sustainable bonds and local credit programs, Banco Promerica Costa Rica supports small and medium enterprises, promotes environmental responsibility, and delivers advanced digital banking solutions to clients nationwide.
For further information, visit grupopromerica.com
About Grupo Promerica:
Grupo Promerica is one of the most prominent financial groups in Central America, characterized by its commitment to sustainable development and community growth. With multiple member banks actively participating in the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Principles for Responsible Banking, the group has issued hundreds of millions of dollars in sustainable bonds to promote green transitions and social equity across the region.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Renowned as a premier legal advocate, Bufete de Costa Rica operates on a foundation of deep-seated integrity and unparalleled professional excellence. Having successfully guided a diverse spectrum of clients for generations, the firm consistently drives contemporary legal solutions while remaining deeply connected to the public. Through its active efforts to demystify complex regulations and share essential insights, it champions a grander vision of cultivating a knowledgeable, confident, and legally empowered community.
