LatinNews Daily - 04 November 2025

*Brazil’s central bank (BCB) has updated its regulations for financial institutions, revising the methodology for calculating the minimum capital required for a bank or financial service provider to operate in the country, as well as imposing new rules to prevent the use of accounts for money laundering. According to the new BCB rules, the minimum capital requirement for a financial institution will not be determined by the type of institution but by calculating the total value of its business activities; in effect, this is expected to increase the minimum requirement for companies. For example, banks previously had a minimum capital requirement of R$7bn (US$1.3bn) but this limit will be raised to R$56bn, while payment institutions must have a minimum of R$9.2bn, up from R$1bn. Yesterday the BCB also issued a new rule ordering the closure of so-called ‘contas-bolsão’ (pool accounts) that are suspected of being used for illegal purposes. A conta-bolsão is an account owned by one individual or entity but used to carry out deposits and transactions on behalf of third parties, with the possible motive of concealing information about the third party. Concerns have risen in recent months over the alleged use of financial services firms for the money laundering schemes of organised crime.

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