Banco Azteca lives from financial inclusion, we have understood it, we have developed it”.
Alejandro Valenzuela, CEO of Banco Azteca.
“For us (financial inclusion) it is not a matter of rhetoric or of looking good socially, it is a business model,” says Alejandro Valenzuela del Río, CEO of Banco Azteca.
He says it based on his numbers: the bank has been serving the popular segment with financial services for 20 years and, in that period, he details, more than 30 million Mexicans have passed through the institution who have required professional, formal banking services, and with very clear and simple products.
“Banco Azteca lives from financial inclusion, we have understood it, we have developed it,” he underlines.
In an interview, he highlights that this bank has dedicated many resources to financial education, which is essential to achieve such inclusion.
much to do
However, it highlights that there are still many millions of Mexicans who are not banked, and therefore the work of Banco Azteca is to continue focusing on seeking to incorporate more individuals who can take advantage of financial services and products such as payments, savings, credits, insurance and Afores. .
“Options that are accessible, very easy to understand, and with this we are banking,” he says.
The banker regrets that, despite the fact that it has been a permanent exercise, financial penetration in Mexico is still low when compared to other countries with similar development such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru.
Relationship with the government is institutional
Since the current government began, headed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the president’s relationship with Banco Azteca has been mentioned.
In this regard, Valenzuela del Río assures that, above all, the relationship with the government has been institutional and they have worked hand in hand on issues that can add up, as is the case of the dispersion of social programs.
“To be able to take the resources to where the other banks could not, nor the development bank itself. In fact, also the President, due to this concern, has been developing the Welfare Bank so that they have infrastructure capacity, to be able to take these resources to all corners of the country”, he points out.
In this sense, he underlines that we have worked hand in hand with the government, “and being a Mexican bank, we have been very proud to be able to help President López Obrador and his government to be able to take these resources where they are most needed.”
Banamex case, at the time
When the sale of Banamex by the American Citigroup was announced at the beginning of the year, Ricardo Salinas Pliego, owner of Banco Azteca, expressed his interest in acquiring the franchise.
In this regard, the director of Banco Azteca states that its Chairman of the Board of Directors expressed that interest, and if there is eventually something, it will be known at the time, although he argues that, according to the directors of Banamex, it will be a long process.