The Gender Gap in Business Credit
According to the 2024 Report on Financial Stability by Banco de México (Banxico), there are significant gender gaps in business credit. Women account for only 30.6% of accredited businesses, compared to 69.4% for men. Moreover, their credits make up just 24% of the total balance, while men’s credits cover nearly 75%.
Implications of Women’s Concentration in Specific Sectors
Banxico’s report highlights that women’s concentration in particular economic sectors can contribute to diversifying credit portfolios. Furthermore, the delinquency index—the proportion of overdue balance relative to the total portfolio—tends to be lower among women across all credit categories, suggesting more favorable payment behavior. Increased financing directed towards women could potentially benefit the financial system.
Motivations for Women Entrepreneurship
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), 49% of women who have started a business believe that their primary motivation is to gain greater independence and improve their quality of life.
BBVA Mexico’s Initiatives for Women Empowerment
BBVA Mexico actively promotes women’s economic empowerment through specially designed financing programs in collaboration with Nafin and Bancomext. These programs aim to strengthen women-owned production chains with preferential interest rates, targeting vulnerable segments such as women, young entrepreneurs, and microbusinesses.
Government Support for Gender-Inclusive Credit
In addition to private sector efforts, the Mexican government, through the Secretariat of Public Finance and Credit (SHCP), introduced a regulatory reform in mid-2021, published in the Federal Official Gazette (DOF). This reform acknowledges that women have lower default rates, requiring less capital reserve for their credit.
The Rationale Behind Gender-Inclusive Credit
Credit allocation follows a similar logic to investment decisions, where balancing risk and return is crucial.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current gender gap in business credit in Mexico? Women represent 30.6% of accredited businesses and hold only 24% of the total business credit balance, compared to men’s 69.4% and 75%, respectively.
- How can women’s concentration in specific sectors impact credit portfolios? Including women-owned businesses can diversify credit portfolios, as they tend to have lower delinquency rates.
- What motivates women to become entrepreneurs in Mexico? According to INEGI, 49% of women entrepreneurs aim for greater independence and improved quality of life.
- What initiatives are being taken to support women in business credit? BBVA Mexico offers preferential financing programs for women-owned businesses, while the government has introduced regulatory reforms to lower capital reserve requirements for women’s credit.
- Why is a gender-inclusive approach important in the financial sector? Besides promoting social justice, it enhances credit portfolio quality and financial stability.
