The objective is to look into the background of the currency crisis, banking crisis and more

important into the implementation of the FOBAPROA during the banking crisis and the

political and social implications it brought on the Mexicans.

History of the Banking SystemPresident Lopez Portillo (1976-1982), Nationalize the

banks in September 1982. Miguel de la Madrid (1982-1988), created the

FICORCA (Exchange risk coverage) Financed by a loan to finance the Fiscal deficit, the external debt and the economy of the country.

Carlos Salinas de Gortari (1988-1994), July 1, 1990 the privatization of Mexico’s banking sector under the Financial Groups Law. In 1990 the FOBAPROA was created.

Ernesto Zedillo (1994-2000), watched over the currency devaluation and the IPAB was created in 1999.

Vicente Fox (2000-2006).

What is the FOBAPROA?The Banking Fund for the Protection of Savings.

Created in 1990 to attempt to resolve liquidity of the banking system.

It was applied during the economic crisis to protect all Mexicans banks from going bankrupt and thus destroying the Mexican economy.

A contingency fund for extraordinary financial problems in order to prevent similar situations from previous administrations.

It would assume outstanding debt and would capitalize banks in the advent of economic crisis that would prevent liquidity for these banks.

Financial Sector BackgroundPrivatized the banking system and allowed foreign

investments.1991 privatization of the banks in order to reduce

government spending and to liberate the economy.The 1990 Financial Groups law adopted a universal-

banking structure as the legal framework for Mexico’s financial sector.Financial groups headed by

By a holding company, bank, or brokerage house with most headed by brokerage houses.

Each financial group was required to include at least 3 types of financial intermediaries, e.g., a bank, insurance company leasing company, foreign exchange house and investment fund service.

In January 1994, the government divested its remaining minority stock holdings.

Example of a Financial GroupGF Bancomer Subsidiaries

Bancomer ( comercial banking)Casa de Bolsa Bancomer ( Securities)Casa de Cambio Bancomer ( exchange)Arrendadora Finaciera MonterreyAlmacenadora BancomerFactorage BancomerArrendadora Bancomer

Signs of the Banking CrisisPost privatization Mexican banks issued large

numbers of credit cards, mortgage and car loansIn 1991 past due loans increased by 3.5%, 8.5% in

March 1994, 7.9 by the year end. An increase from 35% to 97% of total banking sector book capital.

1992 nine banks failed to meet the 8% capital requirement .

1987-1994 commercial credit expanded by more that 100%, housing 100%, consumption credit by 450%.

Currency Devaluation Two thirds of 99 billion inflows were portfolio investments. The

Mexican peso began to appreciate as a result of capital inflow overvalued about 30%.

Balance of payments deficits were financed by dwindling international reserves. The Mexican central bank was forced to supply dollar from reserve.

Capital flight in 1994 estimates from $ 17-20 billion . Carlos Salinas de Gortari controls the exchange rate in order to

prevent an electoral turbulence. The EZlN uprising the state of Chiapas The assassination of a the PRI candidate and March- May 1994 in an attempt to defend the peso the central

bank spent 10 billion. To entice capital the government began to offer dollar-dominated treasury bonds known as “tesobonos”.

By the end of November 12.5 billion were insufficient to cover even half of the 25 billion short public debt 70% denominated in tesobonos. And by December reserves were at 6 billion and then the government had little choice but to devaluate the currency.

Banking CrisisThe bad combination of credit and no capitalTaking high risk and the competition.Overdue loans became a national epidemic after

the sharp currency devaluation on December 20, 1994.

Borrowers defaulted because high interest rates and the post devaluation economic decline.

Interest rates on consumers debt peaked as high as 120% and the subsidies to about 78% in 1995.

Bad loans estimated in March , 1996 ranged 15% to 40% of the banking sector portfolio, with a bailout tag ranging from 10 billion to 30 billion dollars, or from 5% to 12% of GDP.

The BailoutA priority of the state

The issue wasn’t just the bailout but the way it was implemented.

FOBAPROA the state owned deposit insurance agency developed a plan to recapitalize banks by purchasing non-performing loans.Non-performing loansBanks took advantage of the bailoutThere were some banks that could have survived.The government even pay for the bad credits that

banks issued but the government didn’t have money.

Cont… Transaction

September 1995, GF GBM-Atlantic and GF Promex-Finamex sold more than 1.06 billion in overdue loans to FOBAPROA.

Banco Mexicano sold 900 million in loans to FOBAPROA. Related credits

Banpais Fraud: regulators found that 60% of Banco Interestatal loans were internal

loans to bank’s controlling group The total cost

Estimates at around 100 billion dollars , some other estimates at around 65 billion dollars

In 1998 Zedillo submitted two initiatives for legislation that required that the FOBAPROA to become a public debt. One to administer the assets and the debt FOBAPROA.

Instead they created the IPAB the public agency in charge of the banking deposit insurance system in Mexico.

Objectives to protect savers deposits and contributing to the preservation of the financial system.

Beneficiaries and PoliticsIt is evident that the beneficiaries were bankers,

share holders and the big borrowers.Roberto Hernadez, president of BANAMEX sold the

bank for 12 billion to Citi Group and didn’t pay any taxes.

Hernadez was a big contributor for the political campaigns of the PRI and PAN.

PRD opposed to the idea of the public debt.PAN posture was that Mexicans were not

supposed to be passed the bill of the bailout.PRI didn’t defend the executive.

Final Thoughts