2026-09-08 | NPBT-18Added
Banks, foreign bank branches, credit and savings societies, cooperative banks, their federations, and investment banks must calculate and constitute a liquidity reserve with a global cap of twenty-five percent of obligations. The reserve may be held in US dollars at the Central Bank or invested abroad in specific tranches: 25% in demand deposits, 25% in Central Bank securities or deposits, and 50% in Central Bank securities or deposits. Compliance begins fourteen days after the calculation period ends. These Temporary Norms replace Chapters II and III of NRP-28 and are valid from September 9, 2026, to February 23, 2027. Non-compliance is sanctioned under the Law on Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System.
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NPBT-18
RESERVA DE LIQUIDEZ SOBRE DEPÓSITOS Y OTRAS
OBLIGACIONES
Aprobación: 08/09/2026
Vigencia: 09/09/2026
EL COMITÉ DE NORMAS DEL BANCO CENTRAL DE RESERVA DE EL SALVADOR,
CONSIDERANDO:
I. That Articles 45, fourth paragraph, and 47 of the Banks Law, Articles 28, fourth paragraph, and 30 of the Cooperative Banks and Credit and Savings Societies Law, and Articles 30, fourth paragraph, and 31 of the Investment Banks Law, establish the need to issue pertinent norms to apply provisions related to the establishment of the liquidity reserve.
II. That Article 99, letter a), of the Law on Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System, establishes that the Norms Committee is responsible for issuing resolutions such as the approval of technical norms, instructions, and provisions that the laws regulating supervised entities establish must be issued to facilitate their application, especially those related to solvency and liquidity requirements.
III. That Article 100 of the Law on Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System establishes that exceptionally, in circumstances that foresee the occurrence of possible imbalances in the financial system or for reasons of social interest, the Norms Committee with at least two of its members may issue, without further procedure, technical norms of a temporary nature and with immediate effect, without the prior consultation referred to in said article. The validity of the norms may not exceed one hundred and eighty days.
THEREFORE, by virtue of the normative powers conferred by Article 100 of the Law on Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System,
AGREES to issue the following:
TEMPORARY TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR THE CALCULATION OF THE LIQUIDITY RESERVE ON DEPOSITS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
CHAPTER I
OBJECT, SUBJECTS, AND TERMS
Object
Art. 1.- These Norms aim to establish temporary parameters for the Liquidity Reserve requirement, in order to strengthen the liquidity of the financial system and ensure its stability.
Subjects
Art. 2.- The subjects obligated to comply with the provisions established in these Norms are:
a) Banks constituted in El Salvador; b) Branches of foreign banks established in El Salvador; c) Credit and savings societies; d) Cooperative banks; e) Federations formed by cooperative banks and also by credit and savings societies; and f) Investment banks.
Terms
Art. 3.- For the purposes of these Norms, the terms indicated below have the following meaning:
a) Central Bank: Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador; b) Norms Committee: Norms Committee of the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador; c) Entities: Subjects obligated to comply with these Norms according to Article 2 of the same; d) LR: Liquidity Reserve; and e) Superintendence: Superintendence of the Financial System.
CHAPTER II
TEMPORARY CALCULATION OF THE LIQUIDITY RESERVE REQUIREMENT
Coefficients of obligations subject to reserve Art. 4.- During the validity of these Norms, the coefficients applicable for the calculation of the Liquidity Reserve requirement are as follows:
a) Coefficients applicable to the obligated subjects described in letters a), b), c), d), and e) of Article 2 of these Norms:
| Code | Account Names | % Coefficients |
|---|---|---|
| 211001 | Demand Deposits – Checking Accounts | 16 |
| 211002 | Demand Deposits – Savings Accounts | 14.5 |
| 211003 | Demand Deposits – Savings Accounts – Simplified Savings Account Deposits | 14.5 |
| 2111 | Agreed Deposits up to one year term | 11.5 |
| 211201 | Time Deposits – Agreed for more than one year term | 11.5 |
| 211202 | Time Deposits with special liquidity reserve (CEDEVIV and CEDAGRO) | 10 |
| 211202 | Time Deposits with special liquidity reserve (For the cancellation of agricultural and livestock debt) | 1 |
| 211203 | Deposits in guarantee of letters of credit – Agreed for more than one year term | 11.5 |
| 211204 | Programmed savings deposits – Agreed for more than one year term | 11.5 |
| 211301 | Negotiable Deposit Certificates | 11.5 |
| 211401 | Restricted and inactive deposits – in guarantee – savings accounts | 14.5 |
| 211402 | Restricted and inactive deposits – in guarantee – time deposits | 11.5 |
| 211403 | Restricted and inactive deposits – seized – checking accounts | 16 |
| 211404 | Restricted and inactive deposits – seized – savings accounts | 14.5 |
| 211405 | Restricted and inactive deposits – seized – time deposits | 11.5 |
| 211406 | Restricted and inactive deposits – inactive – checking accounts | 16 |
| 211407 | Restricted and inactive deposits – inactive – savings accounts | 14.5 |
| 211408 | Restricted and inactive deposits – in guarantee – simplified savings account | 14.5 |
| 211409 | Restricted and inactive deposits – seized – simplified savings account | 14.5 |
| 211410 | Restricted and inactive deposits – inactive – simplified savings account | 14.5 |
| 2116080101 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks by letters of credit – ML | 3 |
| 2116080102 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks by letters of credit – ME | 3 |
| 2116080201 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks by credit lines – ML | 3 |
| 2116080202 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks by credit lines – ME | 3 |
| 2116080301 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks – others – ML | 3 |
| 2116080302 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks – others – ME | 3 |
| 2116080501 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign cooperatives – ML * | 3 |
| 2116080502 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign cooperatives – ME * | 3 |
| 2116089901 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Interest and other payables – ML | 3 |
| 2116089902 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Interest and other payables – ME | 3 |
| 2117080101 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks by letters of credit – ML | 3 |
| 2117080102 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks by letters of credit – ME | 3 |
| 2117080201 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks by credit lines – ML | 3 |
| 2117080202 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks by credit lines – ME | 3 |
| 2117080301 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks – others – ML | 3 |
| 2117080302 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks – others – ME | 3 |
| 2117080501 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign cooperatives – ML * | 3 |
| 2117080502 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign cooperatives – ME * | 3 |
| 2117089901 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Interest and other payables – ML | 3 |
| 2117089902 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Interest and other payables – ME | 3 |
| 2130010201 | Demand Obligations – Own Checks - certified - ML | 16 |
| 2130010202 | Demand Obligations – Own Checks - certified – ME | 16 |
| 212001 | Own Issuance Securities – Agreed for less than one year term | 15 |
| 212001 | Own Issuance Securities at one year term | 5 |
| 212002 | Issuance Securities – Bonds convertible into shares Agreed up to one year term | 5 |
| 212003 | Own Issuance Securities - Agreed for more than one year and less than five years term | 5 |
| 212004 | Own Issuance Securities - Agreed for five or more years term (Includes those agreed for 5 years term guaranteed with State bonds for the Conversion and Consolidation of guaranteed internal debt). | 1 |
| 212006 | Other own issuances Agreed for less than one year term | 15 |
| 212006 | Other own issuances Agreed for one year term | 5 |
| 212007 | Other own issuances Agreed for more than one year and less than five years term | 5 |
| 212008 | Other own issuances Agreed for five or more years term | 5 |
| 5120010002 | Contingencies by Guarantees and Sureties - Guarantees for less than five years term – ME | 5 |
| 5120040002 | Contingencies by Guarantees and Sureties - Sureties for more than five years term – ME | 5 |
b) Coefficients applicable to the obligated subjects described in letter f) of Article 2 of these Norms:
| Code | Account Names | % Coefficients |
|---|---|---|
| 211001 | Demand Deposits – Checking Accounts | 16 |
| 211002 | Demand Deposits – Savings Accounts | 14.5 |
| 2111 | Agreed Deposits up to one year term | 11.5 |
| 211201 | Time Deposits – Agreed for more than one year term | 11.5 |
| 211203 | Deposits in guarantee of letters of credit – Agreed for more than one year term | 11.5 |
| 211204 | Programmed savings deposits – Agreed for more than one year term | 11.5 |
| 211301 | Negotiable Deposit Certificates | 11.5 |
| 211401 | Restricted and inactive deposits – in guarantee – savings accounts | 14.5 |
| 211402 | Restricted and inactive deposits – in guarantee – time deposits | 11.5 |
| 211403 | Restricted and inactive deposits – seized – checking accounts | 16 |
| 211404 | Restricted and inactive deposits – seized – savings accounts | 14.5 |
| 211405 | Restricted and inactive deposits – seized – time deposits | 11.5 |
| 211406 | Restricted and inactive deposits – inactive – checking accounts | 16 |
| 211407 | Restricted and inactive deposits – inactive – savings accounts | 14.5 |
| 2116060101 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks by letters of credit – ML | 3 |
| 2116060102 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks by letters of credit – ME | 3 |
| 2116060201 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks by credit lines – ML | 3 |
| 2116060202 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks by credit lines – ME | 3 |
| 2116060301 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks – others – ML | 3 |
| 2116060302 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Owed to foreign banks – others – ME | 3 |
| 2116069901 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Interest and other payables – ML | 3 |
| 2116069902 | Agreed Loans up to one year term - Interest and other payables – ME | 3 |
| 2117060101 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks by letters of credit – ML | 3 |
| 2117060102 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks by letters of credit – ME | 3 |
| 2117060201 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks by credit lines – ML | 3 |
| 2117060202 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks by credit lines – ME | 3 |
| 2117060301 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks – others – ML | 3 |
| 2117060302 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Owed to foreign banks – others – ME | 3 |
| 2117069901 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Interest and other payables – ML | 3 |
| 2117069902 | Agreed Loans for more than one year term - Interest and other payables – ME | 3 |
| 2130010201 | Demand Obligations – Own Checks - certified - ML | 16 |
| 2130010202 | Demand Obligations – Own Checks - certified – ME | 16 |
| 212001 | Own Issuance Securities – Agreed for less than one year term | 15 |
| 212001 | Own Issuance Securities at one year term | 5 |
| 212002 | Issuance Securities – Tokenized Securities Agreed for less than one year term | 15 |
| 212002 | Issuance Securities – Tokenized Securities Agreed for one year term | 5 |
| 212003 | Own Issuance Securities - Agreed for more than one year and less than five years term | 5 |
| 212004 | Own Issuance Securities - Agreed for five or more years term (Includes those agreed for 5 years term guaranteed with State bonds for the Conversion and Consolidation of guaranteed internal debt). | 1 |
| 212005 | Issuance Securities – Tokenized Securities Agreed for more than one year Term | 5 |
| 5120010002 | Contingencies by Guarantees and Sureties - Guarantees for less than five years term – ME | 5 |
| 5120040002 | Contingencies by Guarantees and Sureties - Sureties for more than five years term – ME | 5 |
To the resulting amount, a percentage equivalent to 68% of the balance that entities subject to the “Technical Standards for the Calculation and Use of the Liquidity Reserve on Deposits and Other Obligations” (NRP-28) reported in account 111001 “Cash on Hand” as of September 30, 2022 (rounded to two decimal places), will be deducted, and it will remain valid until the end of the validity of these Temporary Norms. The Superintendence will verify that the balance that entities maintain in account 111001 “Cash on Hand” is equal to or greater than the cash discount established in the previous paragraph. In the text of these Norms, the expression “obligations” will include all the aforementioned liabilities. In no case shall the global amount of the required reserve exceed twenty-five percent of the obligations.
Temporary calculation of the required liquidity reserve Art. 5.- The temporary calculation of the required liquidity reserve will be the amount resulting from applying the coefficients established in accordance with Article 4 of these Norms to the average balance of the obligations subject to reserve. The daily average balances must be those corresponding to the calculation period of the reserve requirement. This period will consist of fourteen consecutive days prior to the compliance period, which will always begin on Tuesdays and end on Mondays. In the case of non-business days included within a reserve requirement calculation period, the balance of the previous business day will be taken. For the purposes of these Norms, non-business days will be Saturdays, Sundays, and days closed by the Superintendence; business days include days from Monday to Friday, even if they correspond to balance preparation days. The Superintendence will calculate and inform each of the obligated subjects, on the business day after the calculation period concludes, the required reserve.
Compliance Period
Art. 6.- The compliance period for the reserve comprises fourteen days, which will begin on the Wednesday after the conclusion of the reserve requirement calculation period. It will be understood that an entity has met the reserve requirement when, at the end of the compliance period, an average equal to or greater than the required reserve is obtained.
Constitution of reserves
Art. 7.- The reserve may be constituted wholly or partially in the Central Bank, in the form of demand deposits in United States dollars or in securities issued by it in the same currency. The reserve may also be invested abroad and must be integrated by the following tranches:
a) The equivalent to twenty-five percent (25%) of the reserve requirement, in the form of a demand deposit in the Central Bank or the foreign bank in question; b) The equivalent to twenty-five percent (25%) of the reserve requirement, in the form of demand deposits in the Central Bank or the foreign bank in question; or securities issued by the Central Bank for the purposes of the liquidity reserve; and c) The remaining fifty percent (50%) in securities issued by the Central Bank or demand deposits in the Central Bank for the purposes of the liquidity reserve.
In the case where the obligated subject decides to invest part of the reserve in foreign banks, it must adhere to what is established in the “Technical Standards for the Investment of Liquidity Reserves Abroad” (NPB3-10). The obligated subjects described in letters d), e), and f) of Article 2 of these Norms, according to the Cooperative Banks and Credit and Savings Societies Law and the Investment Banks Law, cannot invest the Liquidity Reserve abroad; consequently, the provisions in the previous paragraphs referring to such investments do not apply to them. In the case where cooperative banks decide to invest up to 50% of the reserve in time deposits in local banks, they must adhere to what is established in Annex No. 4 of the “Technical Standards for the Calculation and Use of the Liquidity Reserve on Deposits and Other Obligations” (NRP-28).
CHAPTER III
OTHER PROVISIONS AND VALIDITY
Application Exception
Art. 8.- During the validity of these Temporary Norms, the provisions contained in Chapters II and III of the “Technical Standards for the Calculation and Use of the Liquidity Reserve on Deposits and Other Obligations” (NRP-28), referring to the calculation of the reserve requirement and the constitution of this, respectively, will not be applicable.
Sanctions
Art. 9.- Non-compliance with the provisions contained in these Norms will be sanctioned in accordance with what is established in the Law on Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System.
Unforeseen Aspects
Art. 10.- Unforeseen aspects in regulatory matters in these Norms will be resolved by the Central Bank through its Norms Committee.
Validity
Art. 11.- The validity of these Norms will be from September 9, 2026, to February 23, 2027.
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Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador — original document · Summary generated with machine assistance and reviewed before publication; the authoritative text is the regulator's original document. How RegAlert works
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