Bank of Guatemala


The Bank of Guatemala is the central bank of Guatemala. It was established in 1945.
Its headquarters is one of the most recognized Brutalist themed architectural structures. Designed by architects José Montes Córdova and Raúl Minondo, the iconic bank stands within the heart of the city's civic center. In collaboration with Guatemalan artists Dagoberto Vásquez Castañeda and Roberto González Goyri, the design highlights its Mayan heritage through the decorative East and West facing façades. Standing at 40 meters high, the concrete structure, in its materiality, reflects the Brutalist movement and its emphasis on a utilitarian design approach, but also slightly combats the movement due to the unique details of its façade. The beautiful design expresses an ornate subtlety which pays homage to the artistic importance Guatemalan culture has had on its urban landscape.
WWW Official Site

Governance

Alvaro González Ricci has been President of the bank since January 2022.

Functions

The Bank of Guatemala, determined by its Organic Law, has the following functions:
1: Be the sole issuer of the national currency;
2: Ensure that an adequate level of liquidity in the banking system is maintained, through the use of the instruments provided for in its Organic Law;
3: Ensure the proper functioning of the payment system;
4: Receive in deposit the bank reserves and legal deposits referred to in its Organic Law;
5: Manage international monetary reserves, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Monetary Board; and
6: The other functions compatible with its nature as a Central Bank that are assigned to it by legal mandate.

Former Presidents of the Bank of Guatemala

  1. Manuel Noriega Morales
  2. Manuel Béndfeldt Jáuregui
  3. Gabriel Orellana Estrada
  4. Gustavo Mirón Porras
  5. Arturo Pérez Galliano
  6. Francisco Fernández Rivas
  7. Augusto Contreras Godoy
  8. Manuel Méndez Escobar
  9. Plinio Alfredo Grazioso Barrilas
  10. Jorge González del Valle
  11. Armando González Campo
  12. Carlos Humberto Alpíre Pérez
  13. Oscar Alvarez Marroquín
  14. Jorge Luis Monzón Juárez
  15. José Federico Linares Martínez
  16. José Miguel Gaitán Ramírez
  17. Lizardo Arturo Sosa López
  18. Oscar Humberto Pineda Robles
  19. José Federico Linares Martínez
  20. Lizardo Arturo Sosa López
  21. Willy Waldemar Zapata Sagastume
  22. Edin Homero Velázquez Escobedo
  23. Lizardo Arturo Sosa Ramirez
  24. María Antonieta Del Cid Navas de Bonilla
  25. Edgar Baltazar Barquín Dúran
  26. Julio Roberto Suárez Guerra
  27. Sergio Francisco Recinos Rivera
  28. Alvaro González Ricci
Source: Bank of Guatemala