What Unibank does

UniBank, S.A. is a privately held Panamanian commercial bank headquartered in Panama City, operating since December 2010 with $50 million of initial capital and a workforce of 101-250 employees. It serves corporate, private banking, and retail customers across Panama through two physical branches and the UniConnect digital banking platform, which supports 100% digital account opening and online/mobile banking for individuals and businesses. The product portfolio spans corporate loans (commercial, industrial, agro-industrial, mortgages, credit lines, letters of credit), auto loans, savings and checking accounts, fixed-term deposits up to three years, corporate payroll processing, and Mastercard Black Debit card services. UniBank operates through three integrated subsidiaries: UniLeasing (wholly-owned financial leasing for vehicles, equipment, and solar panels with 36-60 month terms), UniTrust (wholly-owned fiduciary services), and Invertis Securities (50%+ owned securities house, investment manager, and LATINEX-registered broker acquired in September 2014).

Revenue derives from net interest income on lending and leasing, interest spreads on deposits, transaction and card fees, and securities/brokerage commissions. The go-to-market combines self-service digital acquisition for retail and auto lending with relationship-managed direct sales for corporate, private, and trust clients, supplemented by an eight-dealer auto finance referral network and partnerships with Mastercard, Proparco, FMO, BID, IPG Panama, FIBA, and ABP. UniBank was the first Panamanian financial group to issue Green Bonds on LATINEX and has secured a $20 million Proparco facility for climate and gender initiatives, positioning sustainable finance as a strategic differentiator alongside its digital onboarding capability, which reduced auto loan approval times from 3-8 hours to approximately 15 minutes.

The bank is led by CEO John Rozo Uribe and reports recognition from Forbes Central America (digital transformation), SUMMA (corporate reputation and ethical leadership), Fintech Americas 2025 Platino (customer experience), and Merco Talento Panama (ranked 8th in Financial/Banking). UniBank's regulatory standing is anchored by a banking license from the Superintendency of Banks of Panama, AML/CFT compliance programs, and data protection compliance under Panama's Law 81 of 2019.

Name

Unibank

Legal name

Unibank, S.A.

Website

https://unibank.com.pa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

UniBank, S.A. is a privately held Panamanian commercial bank providing corporate, private, and retail banking including loans, leasing (UniLeasing), trust services (UniTrust), and securities brokerage (Invertis Securities), delivered through a digital-first platform serving clients in Panama.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial and Retail Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Corporate banking
• Financial leasing
• Digital banking
• Private banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Panama City

HQ country

Panama

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Lending: Traditional banking revenue from interest earned on commercial loans, industrial loans, mortgages, credit lines, and other financing products offered to corporate and individual clients
2. Financial Leasing: Revenue from UniLeasing subsidiary providing financing for vehicles, medical equipment, industrial equipment, electronic equipment, heavy equipment, office furniture, technological equipment, and solar panels through financial leasing arrangements with 36-60 month payment terms
3. Deposit Account Fees and Interest: Revenue generated from savings and checking accounts through interest rate differentials and account maintenance fees, with tiered interest rates offered on savings accounts
4. Debit Card Services: Revenue from Mastercard Black Debit card operations including transaction fees and associated banking services
5. Securities and Investment Services: Revenue from Invertis Securities subsidiary providing securities issuance, investment management, and brokerage services through the Latin American Stock Exchange

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Unibank provides a full suite of personal and corporate banking products in Panama, including savings accounts, fixed-term deposits, commercial and auto loans, credit lines, financial leasing via its UniLeasing subsidiary, fiduciary and trust services via UniTrust, and securities issuance and brokerage via Invertis Securities. The bank delivers these offerings through a digital-first channel (UniConnect online and mobile banking) supported by relationship-managed corporate and private banking, alongside Mastercard Black debit card and payroll processing services.

Product overview

UniBank is a Panamanian private and corporate bank offering a comprehensive suite of financial services through multiple delivery channels. The core banking platform consists of UniConnect for online banking, supported by the UniToken digital authentication system. The bank operates specialized subsidiaries including UniTrust (fiduciary services), UniLeasing (financial leasing), and Invertis Securities (investment services). Banking products span deposit accounts (checking, savings, fixed-term deposits), lending (commercial, auto, and specialized loans), payment services (payroll processing, utility payments), and premium debit cards (Mastercard Black). Additional digital offerings include a real estate property portal and Green Bonds for sustainable investments. The bank emphasizes digital transformation with 100% digital account opening and loan onboarding capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UniLeasing: 100% subsidiary providing financial leasing services for vehicles, medical equipment, industrial equipment, electronic equipment, heavy equipment, office furniture, technological equipment, and solar panels.
• UniTrust
• Invertis Securities

Products and services

• UniConnect Online Banking Platform
• Pago de Planilla Empresarial (Corporate Payroll Service)
• Mastercard Black Débito
• Corporate Loans
• Fixed Term Deposits
• Savings Account (Cuenta de Ahorros)
• Digital Auto Loan Onboarding (Conectándote al futuro / UniConnect Auto Loan)
• UniLeasing Financial Leasing
• UniTrust Fiduciary Services
• Invertis Securities (Securities and Brokerage)
• Bonos Verdes (Green Bonds)
• Cuenta Corriente (Checking Account)
• Cajillas de Seguridad (Safe Deposit Boxes)

Quantifiable outcome

• Auto loan approval reduced from 3-8 hours to ~15 minutes through digital platform
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LATINEX (Bolsa Latinoamericana de Valores)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for green bond issuance and trading. UniLeasing successfully issued Green Bonds through LATINEX, with $3.2 million initially placed as part of a $10 million series within a $30 million corporate bond program.
• FMO (Dutch Development Bank)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented by Frouka Hoekstra, Regional Representative for Latin America and Caribbean, participated in 'Café con La Prensa' forum discussing sustainable economic growth in Chiriquí.
• La Prensa (Panamanian Newspaper)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for co-hosting economic forum 'Visión 2025: Economic Projections and Opportunities for Panama' featuring Minister of Economy and Finance Felipe Chapman and Copa Holdings CEO Pedro Heilbron.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for Mastercard Black Debit card issuance providing customers with international purchasing power, ATM access, and fraud protection backed by Mastercard's global network and services.
• Invertis SecuritiescoreOthersUniBank acquired 50% stake in September 2014, becoming the securities house of Unibank Group. Offers securities issuance, investment management, and brokerage services with a position on the Latin American Stock Exchange.
• Panama Auto Dealers NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership network including Bavaria Motor, ExcelAutomotriz, Grupo AutoStar, Petroautos, Petro Motors, Bahía Motors, Bay Motors, Grupo Sílaba for auto financing promotions at Panama Motor Show 2024.
• IPG Panama (Iniciativa Paridad de Género)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniBank signed commitment to gender parity focusing on increasing women's labor participation, reducing gender pay gap, and promoting women in leadership positions.
• FIBA (Florida International Bankers Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive participation in FIBA AML 2025 conference in Miami addressing latest trends, challenges, and best practices in anti-money laundering prevention.
• BID (Inter-American Development Bank)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniBank participated in BID Annual Governors Assembly in Punta Cana with John Rozo (CEO) and Mariela Arze (Treasury Director) engaging in networking with international correspondent institutions and multilateral organizations.
• ABP (Asociación Bancaria de Panamá)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO John Rozo participated as speaker at XXVIII Hemispheric Congress on AML/CFT/CPF weapons, addressing 'Traditional Banking vs Fintech: Coexistence and Transformation'.
• Invertis SecuritiescoreOthersAccredited as Securities House, Investment Manager, and operator of a position at the Latin American Stock Exchange. Provides comprehensive advisory for financing alternatives through the Securities Market.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Banco Aliado: Panamanian commercial bank specializing in corporate banking, trade finance, and treasury services. Comparable to UniBank as a Panama-focused mid-size bank with a corporate-banking orientation and similar regulatory environment.
• Global Bank: Panamanian commercial bank offering corporate banking, consumer loans, mortgages, and digital banking services. Closely comparable to UniBank as a domestic full-service bank competing in the same corporate and retail segments within Panama.
• Caja de Ahorros: Panamanian state-owned savings institution providing consumer and commercial banking products, mortgages, and digital banking. Comparable to UniBank's deposit-taking, consumer-credit, and digital-channel banking model within Panama.
• Banistmo: Panamanian commercial bank offering corporate banking, treasury services, trade finance, and consumer products. Directly comparable to UniBank's corporate-banking-heavy product mix in the same regulatory environment under the Superintendency of Banks of Panama.
• Banco General: Panama's largest private commercial bank offering retail, corporate, and private banking plus securities and trust services. Directly comparable to UniBank across deposit accounts, commercial loans, auto financing, trust services, and investment products in the same Panamanian market.
• Multibank: Panamanian commercial bank offering consumer, corporate, and private banking with multi-country Central American reach. Comparable to UniBank's full-service Panamanian banking model and overlapping corporate and retail client base.
• BAC Credomatic: One of the largest financial groups in Central America, providing consumer and corporate banking, auto financing, credit cards (including Mastercard), leasing, and securities. Directly comparable to UniBank's full-service commercial banking model across multiple Central American markets.

Regional players

• Banco Davivienda: Colombian financial group with Central American operations (including Panama via Davivienda Panama). Comparable as a regional commercial bank offering consumer loans, corporate banking, leasing, and digital channels across multiple Latin American markets.
• Banco Industrial: Guatemalan commercial bank and financial group offering consumer, corporate, and private banking plus securities and leasing. Comparable to UniBank as a Central American full-service bank with similar product breadth though operating in a different national market.

Broad incumbents

• Grupo Financiero BAC | Credomatic: Larger regional financial group with broad Central American footprint and broader product portfolio (including merchant acquiring, insurance, and asset management). Comparable to UniBank's bundled banking-plus-services strategy but at materially greater scale and geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=DMFbuwhzqyE&list=PLJX_SyjV9TDwOFhY_bEiLGSG_GEmS00dr

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Unibank