Banking & Housing: Panama’s Superintendency of Banks says new mortgages under the preferential interest regime fell 34% from January to April, with officials pointing to lingering legal/fee issues that have kept demand “stagnant,” though they expect a rebound later in the year. M&A in Finance: BAC Panama completed its operational merger with Multibank, creating a single bank with assets above US$45 billion and a loan portfolio over US$32 billion—positioned as the second-largest by assets in the market. Public Sector Risk Management: Panama’s Social Security Fund (CSS) is moving to buy an errors-and-omissions style insurance policy covering up to US$15m annually for three years, aimed at claims tied to senior officials’ decisions and management actions. Infrastructure & Trade: The Panama Canal Authority set a 49.5-foot draft limit from July 3 and also announced a draft reduction for Neopanamax vessels, with auction prices hitting about US$400,000. Regional Business Links: A report highlights Panama’s growing role in the Western Hemisphere’s trade and security cooperation agenda, as the U.S. emphasizes “enlist and expand” partnerships across Latin America and the Caribbean.