ASUNCION, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Paraguayan President Pedro Alliana said Saturday that his government would ensure pension payments and annual bonuses for all retirees covered by the Social Security Institute (IPS) following the collapse of Ueno Bank.
Alliana, who took office on Friday, made the announcement after meeting with IPS President Derlis Leon at the presidential palace in Asuncion to coordinate measures aimed at mitigating the financial impact of the banking crisis.
The IPS had about 350 million U.S. dollars invested in Ueno Bank, which were frozen Tuesday when the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) announced the resolution of the private lender.
Leon told a press conference that the roughly 90,000 retirees registered with the IPS would receive their pensions and annual bonuses on Nov. 17.
Alliana said payments had already been made to 1.196 million Ueno Bank customer accounts, totaling more than 996 billion guaranies (about 160 million U.S. dollars).
"Our priority is to ensure that depositors recover their money," Alliana wrote on social media platform X, adding that efforts would continue throughout the weekend.
"We continue working to provide answers and reassurance to Paraguayan families," he said.
According to the BCP, Ueno Bank had more than 2.9 million customers nationwide whose access to their funds was disrupted when their accounts were frozen. ■
