Source: Dominican Today
Women’s access to formal credit increased from 925,670 in January 2021 to 1,311,792 in January of this year, a 42% increase (386,655), Dominican Today revealed in an article published in its March 7, 2026 edition.
In November 2025, for the first time, the number of women taking out loans surpassed that of men. This trend continued, with a gap of 3,579 recorded in January of this year. Similarly, women topped the list of new borrowers, slightly ahead of men, the article states.
Between January 2025 and January 2026, women represented 50.4% and men 49.6% of this category, according to data from the Dominican Banking Market Information System (SIMBAD) of the Superintendency of Banks.
The term “new borrowers” refers to individuals accessing formal credit for the first time.
The trend in women’s access to the financial system is similar to that observed among men. However, an analysis of loan amounts reveals a persistent gap in favor of men. In January of this year, the average outstanding loan balance for men was RD$190,750, compared to RD$139,167 for women during the same period.
Regarding savings, there is a significant difference between men’s and women’s savings levels. In January of this year, men had accumulated a balance of RD$1 trillion (57.4%), while women’s balance reached RD$795 billion (42.5%). On average, women had RD$114,000 in savings and men RD$160,000.
On the other hand, the study revealed that, among a sample of 1,202 users, 65% of women said they fully trusted their financial institution, a slightly higher percentage than men (60%), which could be associated with progress in inclusion.