By the end of this week, the government should announce 14 measures to stimulate credit, announced this Monday (17) the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad. Among the likely measures is a review of interest on revolving credit cards, which will be discussed later this afternoon at a meeting with representatives of financial institutions.
“Today we are going to discuss alternatives [com os bancos]”, said Haddad as he left for a meeting at the Ministry of Mines and Energy. “The current rotary design is harming the low-income population. Most of the people working at Serasa use their credit cards. Not only that, but also, ”he added.
According to Haddad, the government intends to find a negotiated solution with the banks, as happened with the interest on payroll loans from the National Institute of Social Security (INSS). Last month rates were capped at 1.7% per month, but the ceiling rose to 1.97% per month after banks suspended the offer of this type of credit.
Pre-approved line of credit on the card, the revolving credit applies when the customer pays the invoice or makes withdrawals using the credit function. In February, according to the most recent data from the Central Bank (BC), the rate on revolving credit rose by 6 percentage points, to 417.4% per annum.
In 2017, the Central Bank limited to 30 days charging the revolving credit card. In case of default by the customer after this period, the bank must pay the outstanding balance in installments or renegotiate the debt with more advantageous rates for the debtor.
Banks
In a note, the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban) informed that it is willing to discuss the subject in a technical way. The entity informed that the sector is committed to reducing the cost of credit in the country, but said that the negotiations must take into account the cost structure of financial institutions, the specificities of each product and “economic rationality”.
“In this sense, the entity understands as opportune the technical and in-depth discussion of the causes that lead the credit card to have high levels of interest. Febraban points out, however, that this is a topic that invites us to a broad debate, to see the consequences, involving BC, Treasury and industry participants”, informed the entity.
According to Febraban, it is possible to reach an agreement, as long as the discussions are technical. “It is therefore necessary to find mechanisms that can address the causes of the high spread [diferença entre os juros pagos pelos bancos para captar recursos e as taxas cobradas dos clientes]”, stressed the statement.
* Matter amended at 4:29 pm to add note from Febraban
