Cooperativas de ahorro y crédito vs banca tradicional: una mirada comparativa desde el acceso al financiamiento en microempresas, periodo 2024.

Abstract

Access to financing is a determining factor for the development of microenterprises, especially in contexts where informality and limited investment capacity hinder economic growth. The main objective of this research was to compare the financing conditions offered by banks and cooperatives to microentrepreneurs in the canton of Machala during the year 2024, considering variables such as amounts granted, payment terms, interest rates, guarantees, and access requirements. The study was based on a quantitative approach, descriptive in nature, and employed a non-experimental design. The techniques used included bibliographic review and an observation guide, applied to three banks (Banco de Machala, Banco Pichincha, and Banco Guayaquil) and three cooperatives (JEP, Cooprogreso, and Mushuc Runa). The results showed that cooperatives offer more accessible conditions in terms of minimum financing amounts, flexible payment terms, and less demanding requirements, positioning them as a favorable alternative for the microenterprise sector. On the other hand, banks maintain more competitive interest rates but with more restrictive admission criteria. The comparison revealed that cooperatives exhibit a higher degree of financial inclusion, better adapting to the economic reality of small businesses. It is concluded that cooperatives represent a more viable and relevant option for microentrepreneurs in Machala, as they offer conditions that promote access to credit, strengthen local entrepreneurship, and contribute to the dynamization of the productive sector.