The evolution of Credit in Brazil: what has changed in the last 5 years
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Have you ever wondered how the credit market in Brazil has changed in the last five years?
Economic policies, interest rates and technological innovations have changed a lot.
This article will show these changes, such as interest rates and digitalization of credit.

Main Points
- THE transformation of the credit market Brazilian in the last five years.
- Impact of economic policies and interest rates on the access to loans.
- The role of technological innovations in accessing new credit modalities.
- Significant differences between personal credit and legal.
- The advancement of Open Banking and digitalization of credit in Brazil.
- Emerging challenges and opportunities in the credit market.
Introduction to the Credit Market from 2018 to 2023
Between 2018 and 2023, the credit market 2018-2023 underwent major changes.
These changes directly affected the evolution of credit in Brazil.
Credit fintechs were essential in this process, helping to expand credit.
Fintechs have grown a lot, with 79% of them expanding in 2022. This shows that they are strong even in difficult times.
Fintechs have improved a lot, growing 9% in credit in 2022.
They reached almost R$14 billion. In addition, they hired more people, showing that they are growing.

Credit in Brazil reached 52.9% of GDP in March 2023. Free credit grew 0.1% in March.
But the market is still difficult, with a lot of debt.
Corporate debt is growing, but mortgage lending for individuals is falling.
However, financing for small businesses grew by 53% in 2023, reaching R$ 107 billion.
Investment in innovation has not changed much recently. Fintechs have grown more through continuity than through new developments.
BNDES had a strong year in 2023.
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They approved R$218.5 billion in credit and made R$11.9 billion in profit.
BNDES' net worth grew to R$151.3 billion, showing growth in credit market 2018-2023.
Changes in Credit Modalities
The last five years have seen major changes in credit in Brazil.
This was due to new methods of predicting credit behavior.
These methods use payment data from 2019.
These innovations helped consumers pay faster, which improved their credit history.
Thus, they got better conditions to ask personal credit.

More than 12 million people, including businesses, now have their credit information visible.
This happened with the inclusion of telecommunications data in the Positive Registry.
This change helped many gain access to credit fairly.
PIX, an instant payments system, was launched in 2020. Around 17 million Brazilians started using PIX.
This shows how the financial sector is becoming more digital, making credit easier for everyone.
Banks have invested heavily in technology. Between 2019 and 2022, these investments grew from R$8.3 billion to R$11.3 billion.
Additionally, the number of ATMs has fallen, showing the growth of digital financial services.
Small businesses have also received more credit, especially during the pandemic.
This was possible thanks to government support programs. Thus, the credit for companies had a great growth.
| Year | Investment in Technology (R$1.4T billion) | Number of ATMs |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 8,3 | 168.000 |
| 2020 | 9,5 | 150.000 |
| 2021 | 10,7 | 135.000 |
| 2022 | 11,3 | – |
These changes show how credit has evolved.
He adapted to new technologies and everyone's needs. This opened doors for economic growth.
The Evolution of Credit in Brazil: Investments and Assets
The last five years have been marked by major changes in the credit investments in Brazil.
The Selic rate, which reached 13.25% in June 2022, changed consumer behavior.
This led to a redefinition of investment strategies.
The market response to recent economic crises has been essential.
It influenced the returns of credit investments and financial assets.

An important point was the increase in credit card transactions.
In 2022, they exceeded R$1.4 trillion, compared to R$2.6 trillion in 2021.
This growth shows the need for more credit funds for consumption.
| Year | Credit Card Transactions (in trillions R$) | Debit Card Transactions (in billions R$) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.6 | 916,3 |
| 2022 | 3.0 | —- |
You financial assets showed their strength in the credit for companies.
In February 2022, they reached R$1.3 trillion, an increase of R$17.51 trillion from the previous year.
Furthermore, the credit funds Private investments helped to stabilize the market, offering new investment opportunities.
This evolution shows growth not only in quantity, but also in sophistication.
Between 1997 and 2003, loans grew by 49,84%. And between 2003 and 2008, there was an increase of 223,61%, reaching R$1.227 trillion.
This trajectory shows the importance of understanding the financial assets and credit funds.
This helps to better navigate the growing Brazilian credit market.
Open Banking and Digitalization of Credit
THE Open Banking in Brazil is doing the digitalization of credit easier for many Brazilians.
As of December 2023, over 42 million consents have been given to share data between banks.
This shows the positive impact of financial innovation in the market.

TecBan has been recognized as a leader in Open Finance.
She received the “Innovation in Digital Banking 2023” award from The Banker magazine.
This shows its important role in a more open and secure financial ecosystem.
By December 2022, almost four billion API calls had been made. This shows the high level of data exchange in the industry.
More than 10.5 million active consents have been given as of December 2022.
This represents about 6% of Brazilians with bank accounts.
Now, insurance brokers and other companies can offer more personalized financial services.
Pix, an instant payment system, already has more than 150 million users as of August 2023. It has revolutionized financial transactions in Brazil.
This brought more people into the formal banking environment.
THE Open Banking in Brazil is in a new phase. Now, it is possible to share information about investments and exchange rates.
This helps clients better manage their financial portfolios and transact internationally more efficiently.
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Challenges and Opportunities in the Credit Market
The credit market in Brazil faces many credit market challenges and chances.
Financial institutions and consumers are affected.
A big problem is the financing of credit operations. This is because the funding is essential and depends on the risks.
In February 2023, there was a 9.6% drop in financing. This means a reduction of R$$ 383.7 billion compared to the previous month.
Furthermore, the growth of defaults is a major problem.
High interest rates cause many consumers to experience financial difficulties.
In fact, 85% of credit applications in Brazil are rejected. This shows the need to improve the assessment of payer profiles.
Regulation is also a major challenge. Obtaining licenses and complying with safety standards are unavoidable practices.
They affect the scalability and complexity of credit offerings.
Automation and artificial intelligence are promising solutions.
They bring personalization and efficiency to credit collection.
| Factors | Impact |
|---|---|
| Risk management | Influence on credit offers |
| Sources of funding | Feasibility of credit operations |
| Regulatory compliance | Transaction scaling and security |
| Automation and AI | Efficiency and personalization in credit recovery |
To face these challenges, it is essential to focus on customer experience.
Credit recovery should be a collaborative and less invasive process.
Strategic data collection and analysis are fundamental.
They allow for better decisions and credit opportunities safer and more attractive.
It is advisable to form strategic partnerships with technology companies. This gives access to innovative solutions.
Banking decentralization, driven by Open Banking, can reduce costs and create personalized products.
The Central Bank believes this could benefit consumers with consistent credit profiles.
Credit evolution in Brazil: Conclusion
This study showed how technology, changes in law and economic demands are connected.
Credit in Brazil has a promising future. Credit portfolios are expected to grow, both for individuals and companies.
With an expected growth of 8.4% in 2024 and 8.1% in 2025, credit strategies need to adapt.
This will help to seize opportunities and address economic challenges.
The default rate of the free portfolio has improved.
It is expected to fall from 4.6% to 4.5% in 2024. This shows that the market is stabilizing and gaining confidence.
Half of respondents think the economy will grow above 1.6% in 2024.
This shows that credit conditions are improving.
This study emphasizes the importance of a dynamic regulatory environment.
Innovative financial policies are also essential.
With the Selic expected to close 2024 above 9.0% per year, it is crucial to have credit strategies that support this scenario.
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In short, the future of credit in Brazil depends on adapting to new trends.
It is also important to create financial solutions that meet the needs of families and businesses.
