Extreme Indebtedness and Lack of Credit Access: The Landscape That 'Puts the Country's Financial Stability in Check'

Portafolio Journalist 03/01/2026 11:19 Updated: 03/01/2026 11:19

Extreme Indebtedness and Lack of Credit Access: The Landscape That 'Puts the Country's Financial Stability in Check'

TL;DR

  • Only 35% of Colombian adults have access to formal credit.
  • Lack of formal credit pushes a significant portion of the population towards informal lending ('gota a gota').
  • Informal loans carry extremely high annual interest rates, with households facing up to 382.2% and businesses up to 666.5%.
  • The 'gota a gota' system is often associated with violent collection practices.
  • Labor informality is closely linked to limited financial inclusion.
  • Organizations like Compensar are developing specific financial products for excluded populations.
  • Partnerships with digital finance entities like Entre Amigos aim to increase access to loans for independent and domestic workers.
  • These initiatives seek to improve financial inclusion, protect economic stability, and strengthen social development.