The residents of San Antonio del Estrecho, a Peruvian community on the border with Colombia, must travel some 20 days by raft to reach the nearest branch of the Banco de la Nación in Iquitos, but this will change.

The Banco de la Nación will extend its products and services to 106 locations on the Peru-Colombia border, by means of the Amazon River. It is an unprecedented effort, according to the institution.

The initiative is possible due to the use of the boats Morona and Loreto within national territory, while the bank will use the boats ARC Igarapaná and Bongo Hospital in Colombian territory.
In total, some 60,000 residents in 57 Peruvian and 49 Colombian locations will benefit.

The principal services offered by the Banco de la Nación are savings accounts, debit cards, deposits and withdrawals, chequeing and wire transfers.

Furthermore, during their joruneys, the boats will provide access to medical professionals, chats about the prevention of disease, vaccinations, medicine and books; the boats will also provide haircuts, entertainment and registration with RENIEC.

Overall, the Banco de la Nación is seeking to reach additional Peruvians in the Amazon basin and the Peruvian altiplano.

Banco de la Nación Executive President Carlos Díaz Mariños said that the bank would also reach the conflictive VRAE región.