Over 500,000 Panamanians are about to feel the relief that comes from seeing their Christmas savings fall. This is $272 million that the banks of the National Banking System (SBN) will release in the coming days, a record amount that grew by 11% compared to last year. There are 59,565 new accounts, representing people who joined the discipline of saving and increased the total by 13% compared to 2024.
Where the money is concentrated: four banks take almost the whole cake Statistics from the Panama Banking Superintendency make one thing clear: Christmas savings are highly concentrated. 97% of the total is in just four banks: • Banco General: $208 million (76.4%) • Caja de Ahorros: 9.1% • Banco Nacional de Panamá: 6.6% • Banistmo: 5.1% The rest of the system handles only 2.8%. This product is already the second most important in the system's deposits, covering 8% of all deposit accounts.
People save to avoid debt: a tradition that continues to save wallets Christmas savings remain a strong financial custom in the country. For many households, it is the only way to get to December without going into debt, without relying heavily on credit cards, and without being overwhelmed. In a year where the economy grew moderately, this saved money becomes real relief, reinforcing financial discipline and a culture of planning.
Where people save the most: Panama and West Panama lead the list Panama + West Panama: $220 million in 397,000 accounts (81% of the total) Chiriquí: $15.2 million Colón: $9.5 million Azuero: $8.8 million The capital remains the heart of the movement, where more people organize themselves to save money throughout the year.
Women are leading in savings: they are the majority Statistics confirm what is seen in real life: women save the most. 61% of the accounts are 312,628 accounts totaling $163 million, equivalent to 60% of all the money saved. Furthermore, 70% of the accounts, for both men and women, have balances of up to $500, which shows that this product is direct support for those who earn less but still organize themselves.
A relief for thousands of families Christmas savings remain a key tool: they help thousands of families close the year with some peace of mind, without going crazy with loans or credit cards. It is real, disciplined savings made with effort, which shows that people do organize when they are given useful products.
