The CNBS and the IDB reveal how women-led MSMEs access financial products and services in Honduras

On August 11, 2026, the President Commissioner of the National Commission of Banks and Insurance (CNBS), Lawyer Nicolás J. García Pineda, together with Commissioner Gustavo Solórzano and the Director of the Commissioners’ Office, Lawyer Alejandro Pineda, participated in the event “The Gap in Numbers: Financing and Women’s Enterprises in Honduras,” where the main results of the Survey on MSMEs in Honduras regarding financial products and services, conducted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in partnership with the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) and in collaboration with the CNBS, were presented.

Among the attendees were IDB authorities, CNBS officials, executives from supervised institutions, and representatives from international organizations, business associations, and both the public and private sectors.

The event was aimed at presenting the new evidence on access to business financing, especially regarding the differences that persist between men and women when it comes to granting credit in Honduras.

Key Findings

The results show that women-led businesses apply for financing in proportions similar to those led by men and show comparable approval rates. According to data presented by the IDB, 41.9% of women-owned businesses applied for credit, compared to 40.8% of men-owned businesses. Likewise, the approval rate reached 66.0% for women-led businesses, versus 61.2% for men-led businesses. However, the study identified significant differences in the amounts of financing obtained. 23.5% of women-owned businesses received loans of up to L 15,000.00, while this proportion was only 4.9% for men-owned businesses. These results highlight the importance of continuing to promote initiatives that expand access to financing according to the needs of this segment.

Dialogue space on the challenges and opportunities in the sector

As part of the day, the panel “Perspectives of the Financial Sector” was held, moderated by a BID specialist, in which the Superintendent of Banks and Other Financial Institutions of the CNBS, Licentiate Omar Colindres, participated, along with representatives from the financial sector. The session allowed for the exchange of experiences and reflection on the challenges that women-led businesses still face in accessing financial products and services according to their needs and conditions, as well as the opportunities to strengthen the offer of solutions that help close the gaps identified by the survey.

During the dialogue, Licenciado Colindres stated that “The Survey of MSMEs in Honduras on financial products and services represents an important milestone, as it complements the CNBS’s statistical information with evidence from the demand side and helps us understand aspects that financial records alone cannot capture, such as perceptions, barriers, business decisions, or sociocultural restrictions.” 

Towards a more inclusive financial system These initiatives create spaces for dialogue between public and private actors to reflect, based on evidence, on the gaps that persist in women’s access to business credit. They also help promote policies and programs aimed at expanding their access to financial products and services that are suitable, timely, affordable, and designed to meet their specific needs. In this context, the collaboration between the CNBS and the IDB strengthens the generation of information for decision-making and supports the development of actions that help build a Honduran financial system that is increasingly inclusive, accessible, and aligned with the needs of this business segment.

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