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Opening a bank account in Ecuador isn't hard — but the requirements vary wildly between banks. Here's what Banco Pichincha, Banco del Austro, JEP, and other institutions actually ask for, and which ones are easiest for expats.

The CREA cooperative collapse rattled confidence in Ecuador's savings institutions. But regulators say most large cooperatives entered 2026 with healthy balance sheets. Here's how to verify your cooperative is solid and protect your deposits.

Seven months after the CREA cooperative shut down, 281 members — including retirees and migrant workers — still can't recover their deposits. The government says 99% of people got paid. The remaining 1% says that's not good enough when $31 million is still missing.

Ecuador's international reserves reached a historic $11.86 billion in February — a 166% increase in just 14 months. For expats keeping savings in a dollarized economy, this is the most reassuring economic signal in years.

EcuaPass.com, founded by American expat Chip Moreno, is upending Cuenca's visa consulting industry with free consultations, daily client updates, and a level of transparency that traditional firms have never offered.