In the financial and banking economics research line, the topics of private banking lending specifically in the construction of housing, shopping centers, and plazas in the provinces of the Republic of Panama were addressed. The results reveal that banking activity, in its private banking branch, has been contracting between 2018 and 2024. For seven years, construction activity has been contracting but creating solutions and new commitments from the state. The objective of comparing provincial lending to the construction industry was to review the Banking Activity Reports of the Superintendency of Banks of Panama, citing information on construction loans.

In addition, the Economic and Social Reports of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) were reviewed, citing information on the behavior of the construction industry. Using information on construction lending for each of the ten provinces from 2024 to 2023, it was possible to identify the provinces where lending is increasing and those where it is decreasing. Only three provinces are increasing construction lending: Bocas del Toro, Coclé, and Veraguas. Meanwhile, seven provinces are decreasing construction lending: Colón, Chiriquí, Darién, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, and Panama Oeste. New construction lending has been declining. After seven years, private banking activity in construction lending is experiencing a crisis that engulfs the real construction economy.