Banks in Brazil 2026: a ranking built on verified facts
A ranking of banks in Brazil that serve private customers, authorised and supervised by the Central Bank of Brazil (Banco Central do Brasil), built only on verifiable facts: since when the bank has been operating, whether its deposits are covered by the Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC), whether it holds its own rating from a recognised agency, whether it publishes reports, whether you can open an account in the app, whether it offers Pix, and whether its fees, rates and complaints route through the SAC and the Ouvidoria are published. Every fact links to its source with the date we checked it. We do not compare the size of rates or fees. This is not financial advice. Places are not for sale.
| # | Company | Who it serves | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bradesco | 91 | 1943 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments |
| 2 | Banco do Nordeste | 84 | 1952 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments |
| 3 | Banestes | 81 | 1937 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments 24/7 |
| 4 | BRB – Banco de Brasília | 80 | 1966 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments |
| 5 | Banrisul | 78 | 1928 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments |
| 6 | Banco Bmg | 76 | 1930 | Yes | Not verified | Deposit protection App Account online Instant payments 24/7 |
| 7 | Banco Safra | 72 | 1972 | Yes | Not verified | Deposit protection App Account online Instant payments 24/7 |
| 8 | Agibank | 56 | Not verified | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments 24/7 |
-
- Licensed since
- 1943
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
Details Visit site ↗ 93% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1952
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
Details Visit site ↗ 86% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1937
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
Details Visit site ↗ 83% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1966
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
Details Visit site ↗ 80% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1928
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
Details Visit site ↗ 78% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1930
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Not verified
Pros
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Has a mobile app
- New customers can open an account without visiting a branch
Details Visit site ↗ 81% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1972
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Not verified
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Has a mobile app
Details Visit site ↗ 74% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- Not verified
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
- Has a mobile app
- New customers can open an account without visiting a branch
Details Visit site ↗ 63% backed by facts
How we calculate the Score
40%
Safety
The year the bank was licensed (from the central bank's register or, where the register shows no date, from the official website), membership of a deposit protection scheme, a current rating of the bank itself from a recognised agency (a parent group's rating does not count) and published annual reports.
25%
Digital services
Whether there is a mobile app, whether a new customer can join without visiting a branch, whether the bank supports the national instant payment system, and whether 24/7 support with a human agent is available.
15%
Products
How many of six main retail lines the bank offers: current account, savings or deposits, cards, consumer loans, mortgages and investments.
20%
Transparency
Whether tariffs and current deposit rates are published without logging in (we count the fact of publication, not the level of the rate), whether the complaints procedure is described, and how many branches the bank has in the country.
How to choose a bank
Check the licence in the register
Only banks licensed by the central bank or supervisor may take deposits. Find the bank in the register on the regulator's website and make sure the licence is valid: the National Bank in Belarus, the Bank of Russia, ARDFM in Kazakhstan, KNF in Poland, BaFin in Germany.
Find out whether your money is protected
Check whether the bank belongs to a deposit protection scheme, which accounts it covers and what the compensation limit is. These are national rules and can change, so read them on the scheme's own website.
Read the tariffs, not the advert
The cost of an account is set by the contract and the price list: maintenance fees, cash withdrawals, transfers, conditions for a free plan. Make sure the document is current and keep a copy of the terms you signed up to.
Compare rates on the day you decide
Deposit and loan rates change often, so we do not publish them. Look up the rate on the bank's official website on the day you apply, and read the terms: duration, top-ups, early withdrawal, effective rate.
Think about how you will use the bank
If you need cash and face-to-face help, look at branches near you; if not, look at the app and support. Your account in one bank does not have to be your only one.
Protect access to your account
Install the app only from a link on the bank's official website, check the site's address, and never share codes from messages. Bank staff do not ask for them on the phone.
Know where to complain
First file a written complaint with the bank and keep its reference number. If the answer does not satisfy you, go to the financial ombudsman where one exists or to the supervisor, then to court. The route is usually published on the bank's website.
Frequently asked questions
Who licenses and supervises banks in Brazil?
Banks operate under an authorisation from the Central Bank of Brazil, which also supervises them. To check that an institution is authorised, find its legal name and CNPJ in the footer of the bank's website and look it up in the list of institutions in operation (Relação de instituições em funcionamento) on the Central Bank's website.
How much of my deposits does the FGC guarantee?
The Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC) guarantees up to R$ 250,000 per CPF or CNPJ, per member institution or financial conglomerate, with a ceiling of R$ 1 million in any four-year period. Multiple-service and commercial banks are among its members. The guarantee covers products such as current accounts, savings accounts and CDBs, but not investment funds.
Why does Pix count in the ranking?
Pix is the instant payment system created by the Central Bank: money arrives in seconds, 24 hours a day, every day. We mark a bank as offering instant payments when its own website shows Pix for private customers.
How do I complain about a bank?
First to the bank's customer service (SAC). If that does not solve it, turn to the bank's Ouvidoria (ombudsman), which reviews the case using the SAC protocol number. Each bank card shows whether the bank publishes its complaints procedure.