{{short description|Venezuelan universal bank}} {{Infobox company | name = Banco Sofitasa, S.A. | image = Torre Banco Sofitasa.jpg | image_caption = Banco Sofitasa building in San Cristóbal | image_alt = | type = Universal bank | industry = Finance | predecessor = SOFITASA (1980s-1990) | founded = {{Start date and age|1990|01|15|df=yes}} | founder = Juan Antonio Galeazzi Contreras | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | fate = | successor = <!-- or: | successors = --> | hq_location_city = San Cristóbal, Táchira | hq_location_country = Venezuela | area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = --> | num_locations = 100 | num_locations_year = 2013 | num_employees = | num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) --> | net_income = 6.68 million bolívares<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sudeban.gob.ve/wp-content/uploads/Estados_Financieros_Auditados/EF_II-SEM_2018/SOFITASA/EFA-II-SEM-2018.pdf|title=Banco Sofitasa: Informe de los Auditores Independientes|date=2018|publisher=SUDEBAN|access-date=2022-07-23|language=es}}</ref> | assets = | website = {{URL|http://www.sofitasa.com/certificar/site/p_contenido.asp}} }}
'''Banco Sofitasa''' ('''SO'''ciedad '''FI'''nanciera del '''TÁ'''chira '''SA''') is a Venezuelan universal bank based in San Cristóbal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sudeban.gob.ve/index.php/gcri_directorio-bancario-2/|title=Directorio Bancario|date=n.d.|publisher=SUDEBAN|access-date=2022-07-23|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/list-of-banks-by-country/|title=List of Banks all the banks in the World by Country – 2018|date=2018|publisher=Global Brands Magazine|access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref> Its primary market is in Barinas and the Andean Region and is the only bank in Venezuela with its main headquarters in the Andean region following the closure of Banfoandes. Banco Sofitasa can be found in 18 of Venezuela's 23 states.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
==History== Banco Sofitasa was originally founded as a small financial institution in the 1980s{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} by Juan Antonio Galeazzi Contreras. It was replaced in January 1990 by a regional commercial bank. In 2001, it became a universal bank, the first regional commercial bank to be approved as a universal bank in western Venezuela.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lanacionweb.com/regional/banco-sofitasa-tres-decadas-a-favor-del-progreso-del-pais/|title=Banco Sofitasa: tres décadas a favor del progreso del país|date=2020-01-18|publisher=La Nacion|access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Pérez|first=Carlos Andrés|title=v. 1. 1o. de enero a 31 de marzo de 1990; v. 2. 1o. de abril a 30 de julio de 1990; v. 3. 1o. de agosto al 30 de octubre de 1990; v. 4. 1o. de noviembre al 31 de diciembre de 1990|url={{Google books|x18EAQAAIAAJ|plainurl=yes}}|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/tesis?codigo=119506|title=Impacto de las nuevas tecnologías en la calidad de servicio del sector bancario y su influencia en la satisfacción del cliente: Caso de estudio Banco Sofitasa-Venezuela|date=2010|publisher=Universidad de Deusto|last=Moros Ochoa|first=Maria Andreína|access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref> Its status as a universal bank then allowed it to offer a variety of services, including leasing and real estate, investment banking, and lending.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wallstreetmojo.com/universal-banking/|title=What is universal banking?|date=n.d.|last=Borkar|first=Pooja|publisher=Wall Street Mojo|access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref> Sofitasa is a member of the Banking Association of Venezuela.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
Following the 2012 death of Galeazzi,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.noticiasdiarias.informe25.com/2012/11/fallecio-el-exgobernador-del-tachira.html|title=Falleció el exgobernador del Táchira Juan Galeazzi Contreras|date=2012-11-18|publisher=Noticias Diarias|access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref> Ángel Gonzalo Medina assumed the presidency{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} until 2018, when Óscar Antonio Galeazzi Mogollón was voted in.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://diariodelosandes.com/site/presentada-nueva-junta-directiva-del-banco-sofitasa/|title=Presentada nueva Junta Directiva del Banco Sofitasa|publisher=Diario de los Andes|date=2018-05-16|access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref> Ramón Evencio Molina Duran was voted to replace him in March 2022 after his four-year term ended.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://miranda.tsj.gob.ve/decisiones/decisiones_dia.asp?instituto=&fc=29/03/2022&id=020|title=Este Juzgado|date=2022-03-29|publisher=Tribunal Supremo de Justicia|access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref> Adelis Chávez, brother of President Hugo Chávez, served as the bank's vice president for a number of years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2008/11/23/domingo/1227415953_850215.html|title=Los Chávez en su feudo|date=2008-11-22|last=Peregil|first=Francisco|publisher=El Pais|access-date=2022-07-23|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/internacional/2013/03/17/fortuna-chavez-frias-venezuela/0003_201303G17P28991.htm|title=La fortuna de los Chávez Frías|date=2013-03-17|publisher=La voz de Galicia|last=Flours|first=Julio A|access-date=2022-07-23|language=es}}</ref> Under him, Sofitasa handled much of the government's banking.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cronista.com/impresageneral/Un-joven-politico-desafia-a-Chavez-en-el-estado-natal-del-presidente-20080606-0074.html|title=Un joven político desafía a Chávez en el estado natal del presidente|date=2008-06-06|last=Mander|first=Benedict|publisher=Cronista|access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref>
The bank is partnered with Deportivo Táchira F.C.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.balonazos.com/dvo-tachira-asumio-control-de-5-instalaciones-deportivas-de-san-cristobal/|title=Dvo Táchira asumió control de 5 instalaciones deportivas de San Cristóbal|date=2017-04-22|publisher=Balonazos|access-date=2022-07-23|language=es}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Banks of Venezuela Category:Venezuelan companies established in 1990 Category:Banks established in 1990