Carlos Segura Foster, the former administrator of Banco Agrícola, has raised an alarm over what he describes as a severe institutional and financial decline at the state-owned agricultural bank. Speaking on the news program El Despertador, Segura Foster characterized the current state of the bank’s loan portfolio as “scandalous,” claiming delinquency rates have soared to between 15% and 25%.
The former official alleged that this deterioration is the result of “premeditated decisions” that have distorted the bank’s credit policies. According to Segura Foster, the “Zero Rate” loan program—originally designed to support small-scale farmers—was mismanaged, with significant funds allegedly diverted to large-scale entrepreneurs and institutions that did not meet the program’s requirements.
Segura Foster detailed a series of irregular accounting practices used to mask the bank’s true financial health. He claimed that many loans were reclassified as “managed portfolios” to bypass traditional banking supervision. This maneuver, he argued, allowed the institution to hide risks, avoid mandatory reserves, and present financial statements that do not reflect its actual economic reality.
He also mentioned the irregular practice of renewing expired loans to create the appearance of timely payments and the registering of uncollected interest as actual revenue in the Banco Agricola financials.
Furthermore, he cited political manipulation and criticized the “artificial” surge in loans and new clients during the 2024 election cycle, followed by a sharp decline in 2025.
The former administrator also highlighted a crisis in human resources, alleging that high-ranking positions are being filled by individuals lacking banking experience. He further claimed the bank is currently failing to generate enough income to cover its operating expenses, a situation he compared to the 2004 crisis when the institution faced potential collapse.
“I am not seeking to judicialize this issue,” Segura Foster stated during the interview, insisting that his claims are based on the bank’s own published statistics. Instead, he is calling for a comprehensive management audit. “Do not just take my word for it; let it be audited and verified.”
As of the time of reporting, Banco Agrícola has not issued an official response to these specific allegations.
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Noticias SIN
5 February 2026