Argentina

Awards of Excellence
Latin American regional awards

Banco Macro won best bank in Argentina last year on the strength of its financial results and for being the first of its peers to raise capital on the New York Stock Exchange since the crisis. This year it did even better, achieving more impressive income growth and once again leading from the front in raising new capital. First-quarter net income was up 69% year on year to Ps123 million ($40 million) from Ps73 million, with annualized return on average equity at 21.2% and return on average assets at 3.1%. Since it was created in a mid-crisis merger between Banco Bansud and Banco Macro, one of the firm’s key strengths has been its ability to raise cheap capital. It now enjoys an average annual cost of funding ratio of 4.7%, one of the lowest among its peers.

In December Macro became the first Argentine bank to issue hybrid debt under the country’s new tier 1 capital regulations. The $150 million non-call 10-year bonds allowed the firm to fulfil regulatory requirements at a lower cost than if it had issued equity, while investors were eager to claim the extra interest that the structure offered over the firm’s straight debt.