Community Bank Arimae - Arimae, Panamá

Economic Challenge

The community bank of Arimae, located in the Collective Lands Indigenous Territories of Darién is one of the oldest community banks created by Global Brigades. The community bank offers access to affordable financial services to Arimae’s community members. The community of Arimae does not have access to financial services such as savings and loans, the closest options are often too far, or too difficult to reach due to cultural, geographical/logistical and monetary reasons. There is a common discriminatory bias from Panamanian society that indigenous people cannot save, because they are poor. Therefore, due to this bias and the fact that most indigenous peoples in the region are in the informal sector, they are all excluded from accessing basic financial services, such as a savings account. Additionally, the distance and poor public transportation system limits communities in the region to be able to reach local commercial banks and the cost and requirements to open a savings account are unattainable for most people from Arimae.