SBP-DR-CIRCULAR-2026-0104: Modification of Article 194 of the Banking Law through Law No. 547 of 2026

October 8, 2026
SBP-DR-CIRCULAR-2026-0104

Mr./Ms.
General Manager
City

Reference: Modification of Article 194 of the Banking Law through Law No. 547 of 2026.

Mr./Ms. General Manager:

We inform you that through the recently issued Law No. 547 of September 8, 2026, "Which establishes the right to oncological oblivion and dictates other provisions," Article 194 of the Banking Law is modified with the objective of adding to the rights of banking clients the right to oblivion referred to in the aforementioned legal norm, which in its text provides as follows:

"Article 5. Item 5 is added to Article 194 of Decree-Law 9 of 1998, as follows:
Article 194. Rights of banking clients. Banking clients shall have, among others, the following basic and irrevocable rights: ...
5. To not declare oncological history nor to have it taken into account five years after the end of treatment without relapse."

It should be noted that Law No. 547 of September 8, 2026, entered into force from the day following its promulgation in the Official Gazette, carried out on September 8, 2026, so its provisions are mandatory from that date.

In this sense, we urge banking entities to bring this communication and the content of Law No. 547 of September 8, 2026, to the attention of the areas of the entity responsible for its implementation and compliance, in order to adopt the necessary measures promptly and make the corresponding adjustments in their policies, procedures, systems, forms, and internal controls.

The foregoing with the objective of avoiding requirements or assessments within their operations that are incompatible with the right to oncological oblivion recognized by Law No. 547 of 2026 and, thus, guaranteeing respect and effective observance of this legally recognized right for banking clients.

"Solidity and trust: guarantors of the rights of banking consumers" Av. Samuel Lewis, Panama Business Tower, ground floor - Tels.: (507) 506 7800 / (507) 506-7900 - Fax (507) 506-7700 / 506-7703 Postal Box 0832-2397 W.T.C. Panama, Republic of Panama - www.superbancos.gob.pa - email: superbancos@superbancos.gob.pa Official document signed with Qualified Electronic Signature in the Document Transparency System – TRANSDOC of the Superintendence of Banks of Panama, in accordance with Law 83 of 09/11/2012 and Executive Decree No. 275 of 11/05/2018. Use the QR Code to verify the authenticity of the document or the URL:
https://sigob.superbancos.gob.pa/consulta?id=%2F3eNY924yeSQd40fnYPlUfSWcwMW5AwCfuw1vNadg1w%3D

SBP-DR-CIRCULAR-2026-0104

We thank the Mr./Ms. General Manager for issuing pertinent instructions to the personnel under their charge for the compliance with the present.

Sincerely,

Milton Ayón Wong
Superintendent
ARV/vc

"Solidity and trust: guarantors of the rights of banking consumers" Av. Samuel Lewis, Panama Business Tower, ground floor - Tels.: (507) 506 7800 / (507) 506-7900 - Fax (507) 506-7700 / 506-7703 Postal Box 0832-2397 W.T.C. Panama, Republic of Panama - www.superbancos.gob.pa - email: superbancos@superbancos.gob.pa Official document signed with Qualified Electronic Signature in the Document Transparency System – TRANSDOC of the Superintendence of Banks of Panama, in accordance with Law 83 of 09/11/2012 and Executive Decree No. 275 of 11/05/2018. Use the QR Code to verify the authenticity of the document or the URL:
https://sigob.superbancos.gob.pa/consulta?id=%2F3eNY924yeSQd40fnYPlUfSWcwMW5AwCfuw1vNadg1w%3D