What Banco Banisi does

Banco Banisi (legal entity: BANISI, S.A.) is a privately held, general-license bank incorporated in Panama on June 6, 2007, that commenced operations on March 4, 2008 under Banking License No. 110-2007 issued by the Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá. The bank serves both individual consumers and SMEs through four branches in Panama City and La Chorrera, paired with a digital-first acquisition and servicing layer (App Banisi on iOS/Android, web banking, and WhatsApp as the primary onboarding channel) and payment-ecosystem integrations including Yappy (mobile payments across 25,000+ merchants), VISA (card network), TELERED (ATMs), and Western Union (remittances). Risk-rating trajectory shows investment-grade continuity: PAA+ Stable from 2015-2024, upgraded to BBB+ Positive in 2025 by Pacific Credit Rating.

The product portfolio is bifurcated across retail and commercial segments. Retail offerings include the Cuenta de Ahorros Digital (100% online opening via WhatsApp, 1.5% annual interest), Cuenta Navideña (Christmas savings), Plazo Fijo (fixed-term deposits at 1.00%-4.25% across 30 days to 3 years), Préstamo Personal ($3,500-$50,000 at 9-14%, 1-12 year terms, 24-hour approval), Préstamo de Auto (auto finance from 7% for new and 7.25% for used vehicles), and a full Visa credit card stack (Platinum/Gold/Infinite/Business/Mi Primera Tarjeta with annual fees $25-$180 and interest 16-24%). Commercial offerings include Cuenta Corriente Comercial, Préstamo Comercial, Línea de Crédito Comercial (up to 180-day terms), Tarjeta de Crédito Corporativa, Cuenta Planillera (payroll), and Comercio Exterior (letters of credit, documentary collections, SWIFT transfers). Revenue is generated through net interest spread on lending, account/transaction fees (e.g., debit card B/.3/month, ACH return B/.10, wire B/.35-$75), Visa interchange, and fee income on deposits and trade finance. The bank's technology stack includes biometric authentication, the CashBack ISI loyalty program ($2 spent = 1 point), and direct-salary-discount loan repayment.

Banco Banisi pursues a hybrid GTM: direct-to-consumer digital acquisition via WhatsApp, inside-sales activation by relationship managers within 24 business hours of loan applications, and enterprise field-sales for commercial banking and international trade. Marketing channels span WhatsApp, Facebook/Instagram/YouTube, search-optimized product landing pages, and recurring multi-product Feria Banisi events with promotional merchant partnerships. Ownership sits with PAN-domiciled shareholders through BANISI Holdings S.A. as an intermediate holding entity; the bank is not publicly traded and no external PE/VC backing is disclosed. Compliance posture includes alignment with Panama's data protection regime (Law 81/2019, Executive Decree 285/2021, SBP Agreement 001-2022) and Law 24/2002 for credit information sharing.

Name

Banco Banisi

Legal name

BANISI, S.A.

Website

https://banisipanama.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Banco Banisi is a privately held, general-license Panamanian bank founded in 2007 that serves retail and SME customers through four branches plus a digital-first channel stack (mobile app, web banking, WhatsApp onboarding) anchored by a full deposit, lending, and credit-card product suite.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Commercial banking products
• Consumer lending
• Digital savings accounts
• Payment card services

Headquarters

HQ city

Alto De La Estancia

HQ country

Panama

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Spread-based income from lending activities including personal loans (9-14% rates), auto loans (7%+ rates), credit cards (16-24% rates), and mortgage loans. Also includes interest paid on deposits.
2. Account Fees and Commissions: Monthly/annual fees for accounts (Visa Debit $3/month, Banking App $15/year, Credit Cards $25-180/year), maintenance fees, and service charges for transactions.
3. Transaction Fees: Fees for wire transfers ($35-75), ATM withdrawals, international transactions, overdrafts ($24% on overdrawn amount), check processing, and commerce exterior services.
4. Credit Card Interchange: Revenue from merchant discount rates and interchange fees on credit card transactions processed through Visa network.
5. Fixed Term Deposits: Time deposits offering competitive rates (1-4.25% annually) with various terms from 30 days to 3 years, generating fee income and deposit base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Banco Banisi is a privately held Panamanian general bank offering retail and commercial banking products and services to individual consumers and small/medium enterprises. Its core offerings include digital and Christmas savings accounts, fixed-term deposits, personal and auto loans, Visa debit and credit cards, commercial checking accounts, commercial loans and credit lines, corporate credit cards, payroll accounts, and international trade services, distributed through four physical branches and a mobile-first digital platform (App Banisi and Banca en Línea) with WhatsApp-based acquisition.

Product overview

Banco Banisi offers a comprehensive banking product portfolio structured around personal and commercial banking services. The core personal banking offering centers on savings products (Cuenta de Ahorros Digital, Cuenta de Ahorros Navideña, Plazo Fijo) paired with lending products (Préstamo Personal, Préstamo de Auto) and payment instruments (VISA Débito, Tarjetas de Crédito). Commercial banking services include Cuenta Corriente Comercial, Préstamo Comercial, Línea de Crédito Comercial, Tarjeta de Crédito Corporativa, Comercio Exterior services, and Cuenta Planillera for payroll processing. Digital banking is delivered through the App Banisi mobile platform (iOS/Android) and Banca en Línea web platform, with integrated services including Yappy P2P payments and a Centro de Soluciones de Cobros for collections management. The multi-channel architecture supports both branch (4 physical locations) and digital-only account opening.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cuenta de Ahorros Digital (Digital Savings Account) A 100% online digital savings account for individual consumers in Panama, offering a 1.5% annual interest rate, a Visa Debit card, monthly accumulated balance limits up to B/.5,000, mobile and online banking access, ATM withdrawals via TELERED, and enrollment in the CashBack ISI rewards program.
• Cuenta de Ahorros Navideña (Christmas Savings Account) A goal-based Christmas savings account for individual consumers, structured with weekly deposit quotas, a maximum balance of B/.5,000, and incentive rewards upon completion of the saving plan. Linked to a regular or simplified savings account for automatic weekly debits.
• Plazo Fijo (Fixed-Term Deposit) A fixed-term deposit account for individual and business customers in Panama, offering guaranteed returns at annual rates from 1.00% (30 days) up to 4.25% (3 years), with rapid account opening and terms of 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 270 days, 1, 2, and 3 years; minimum deposit B/.10,000.
• Préstamo Personal (Personal Loan) An unsecured personal loan for salaried employees, government workers, and professionals in Panama, with interest rates from 9% (private sector) to 14% depending on segment, loan amounts from B/.3,500 to B/.50,000, terms from 1 to 12 years, 24-hour approval, and direct salary-discount repayment. Available for debt consolidation.
• Préstamo de Auto (Auto Loan) A vehicle financing loan for individual consumers purchasing new or used cars in Panama, with interest rates starting from 7% (new, 30% down) and 7.25% (used), bonus offers up to B/.2,000 for premium vehicles, and approval in approximately 3 days.
• Visa Débito (Debit Card) A Visa-branded debit card for individual account holders in Panama, available in Elite and Premium/ISI variants, with CashBack ISI rewards (1 point per B/.2 in POS purchases), fraud insurance, daily limits up to B/.5,000 at POS and B/.1,000 at ATMs, and a B/.3 monthly membership fee.
• Tarjetas de Crédito (Credit Cards) A portfolio of Visa credit cards for individual consumers in Panama, including Visa Platinum, Gold, Infinite, and Mi Primera Tarjeta variants, with annual fees from B/.25 to B/.180, interest rates from 16% to 24%, and Priority Pass lounge access for premium tiers.
• Cuenta Corriente Comercial (Commercial Checking Account) A commercial checking account for SMEs in Panama with a B/.1,500 minimum opening balance, personalized service, checkbook access, and integrated online and mobile banking access.
• Préstamo Comercial (Commercial Loan) A commercial loan product for SME business customers in Panama, with competitive rates and terms to support business growth, integrated with business checking accounts and a corporate business card.
• Línea de Crédito Comercial (Commercial Credit Line) A short-term revolving commercial credit line for SME business customers in Panama, with terms up to 180 days, partial disbursements up to the approved limit, monthly interest payments, and capital due at maturity.
• Tarjeta de Crédito Corporativa (Corporate Credit Card) A Visa corporate credit card for business customers in Panama, designed to manage business expenses with integrated expense management capabilities.
• Comercio Exterior (International Trade Services) International trade finance services for SME and corporate clients in Panama, including import, export, domestic, and standby letters of credit, guarantees and sureties, documentary collections, and international wire transfers via the SWIFT network.
• Cuenta Planillera (Payroll Account) A payroll processing account for employer business clients in Panama to manage employee salary payments, with free first-year Visa Debit cards for employees and full digital banking integration.
• App Banisi (Mobile Banking Application) Banco Banisi's proprietary mobile banking application available for iOS (13+) and Android (5.1+), enabling 24/7 account management, fund transfers, bill payments, CashBack ISI tracking, Yappy P2P payment integration, biometric authentication, and access to 6 months of statement history.
• Banca en Línea (Web Banking Platform) Banco Banisi's web-based online banking platform for both individuals (banisipanama.com) and businesses (banisionline.com), providing account access, transfers, bill payments, and loan applications; annual fee B/.15 for individuals and B/.60 for businesses (waived for personal/auto loan or credit card holders).
• Centro de Soluciones de Cobros (Collections Solutions Center) A collections solutions service for existing Banisi loan customers experiencing financial difficulty, providing payment alternatives, unemployment insurance claims handling, deceased debtor claims processing, and self-service loan management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Loan approval within 24 business hours
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VISA InternationalcoreTechnology or IntegrationVISA provides the payment network infrastructure for Banisi's debit and credit cards. Includes Visa Platinum credit cards and Visa Debit cards with international acceptance and CashBack ISI rewards program integration.
• Western UnioncoreTechnology or IntegrationWestern Union international money transfer services available at Banisi branches for receiving international remittances, providing customers with global money transfer access.
• Supermercados Rey (MultiPagos)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiPagos agent network in Supermercados Rey stores enables customers to make loan payments, deposits to savings accounts, and credit card payments at convenient retail locations.
• Yappy (Banking Integration)coreTechnology or IntegrationYappy is a mobile payment service integrated within the Banisi app enabling P2P transfers, QR code payments, and commerce payments. The Yappy Directory includes 25,000+ registered merchants.
• TELEREDcoreTechnology or IntegrationTELERED network provides ATM access for Banisi customers. First 5 monthly ATM withdrawals are free; subsequent withdrawals incur B/.1.50 + ITBMS fee.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Banistmo: Panamanian commercial bank offering retail deposits, personal/auto loans, credit cards, commercial banking, and international trade services. Owned by Bancolombia group; competes head-on with Banisi for SME and retail customers in Panama.
• Banco Aliado: Panamanian commercial bank focused on corporate and SME banking, including trade finance and treasury services. Comparable on commercial/COMEX product set and Panama-centric footprint.
• Multibank: Panamanian-headquartered bank group with retail and corporate banking in Panama plus regional presence. Competes in similar retail/SME/COMEX segments with comparable digital capabilities.
• BAC Panama: Panama subsidiary of BAC International, a major regional bank serving retail and SME customers with full banking services including digital channels, cards, and trade finance. Closest direct competitor in customer segments and digital retail proposition.
• Davivienda Panama: Panamanian banking subsidiary of the Colombian Grupo Bolívar/Davivienda. Offers retail deposits, consumer credit, and commercial banking; comparable customer profile and digital retail proposition.

Emerging players

• BAC Credomatic: Central American regional bank with growing Panama presence focused on consumer credit, cards, and digital payments. Comparable on digital retail/cards proposition and Yappy-adjacent payment ecosystems.

Broad incumbents

• Banco General: Largest commercial bank in Panama by assets, offering retail, SME, corporate, and trade-finance products. Directly comparable in product mix (deposits, personal/auto loans, cards, COMEX), but with materially larger scale and branch network.
• Banco Nacional de Panamá: Panamanian state-owned commercial bank offering retail, SME, and government banking. Competes for similar payroll/salary-loan customer base and government employees.
• Scotiabank Panama: Subsidiary of Scotiabank offering retail, SME, corporate, and trade-finance banking in Panama. Comparable across full product spectrum but with the backing of a global bank.
• HSBC Panama: Global bank's Panama franchise with strong corporate and trade-finance orientation plus retail banking. Comparable on COMEX/SWIFT capabilities and full banking license.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/banisipma
• Facebookfacebook.com/banisipanama
• Instagraminstagram.com/banisipanama
• Xx.com/banisipanama
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/banisi

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Banco Banisi