The Banco Anglo Costarricense was Costa Rica's first private bank, established in 1863. In 1948, it was expropriated by the government for public utility reasons. The bank accumulated large losses over decades due to risky investments, including the purchase of Venezuelan debt bonds. This led the government to close the bank in 1994. Audits found irregular credit procedures and purchases of companies at inflated prices, contributing to total losses of over $55 million. The closure aimed to restore public confidence in the banking system.