Banco del Pichincha is certainly the best bank in Ecuador, although that isn't saying a great deal. The dollarized economy could yet implode, although new president Lucio Gutierrez is doing his best to keep it on an even keel. Pichincha is doing as well as it can in the circumstances, and managed to make $17 million in 2002 on assets of just over $1.5 billion. It is the only bank in Ecuador to be rated by Moody's, and is the local bank of choice in the country.