Analysis of the financial health of segment 3 credit unions in the province of Chimborazo, Ecuador
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61347/psa.v4i2.192Keywords:
CAMELS, financial health, financial sustainability, savings and credit cooperatives, segment 3Abstract
Savings and credit cooperatives play a significant role in financial inclusion and economic development, although their sustainability depends on effective financial risk management. This study aimed to analyze the financial health of segment 3 savings and credit cooperatives in Chimborazo, Ecuador, using the CAMELS model. A quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental study was conducted using secondary financial data published by the Superintendence of Popular and Solidarity Economy. Seven cooperatives were assessed across six dimensions: capital adequacy, asset quality, management efficiency, earnings, liquidity, and sensitivity to market risk. The assessment was complemented by a descriptive longitudinal analysis of four institutions with comparable financial information for 2023–2025. The results showed that 71.43% of the cooperatives exhibited a fair performance level, while 28.57% achieved an acceptable level, with CAMELS scores ranging from 2.283 to 3.167. Liquidity received the most favorable ratings, whereas profitability, capital adequacy, and management efficiency revealed greater vulnerabilities. The longitudinal analysis indicated relative stability in the average CAMELS score, with the overall performance classification remaining fair throughout the three-year period. It was concluded that the cooperatives exhibited heterogeneous financial conditions, predominantly characterized by fair performance, highlighting the need to strengthen profitability, management efficiency, and capital adequacy to enhance their institutional sustainability.
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