NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Slower economic growth in Panama, following several years of strong expansion, may heighten the erosion of credit strength brought about by very high competition among local banks, says Fitch Ratings. In Fitch's view, bank competition may actually intensify in times of less vigorous loan demand, exacerbating many banks' already limited capital generation. Near term, there is a higher potential for industry consolidation, particularly among small banks with weaker fina