With the liquidation of financial institutions by the Central Bank (BC) since the end of 2025, news and rumors about the health of banks began to circulate more frequently, not always with correct information. For consumers and investors, knowing how to differentiate real alerts from fake news is essential to protect their money and make safe decisions.
There are official tools, public indicators and objective signals that allow evaluating the financial situation of a bank operating in Brazil. Not all alarmist news about financial institutions is true.
Before acting out of fear, consumers should consult official sources, analyze indicators and be wary of exaggerated promises. Quality information remains the best defense against rumors and harm.
Check out the step-by-step guide to see if negative news is correct or if it is just misinformation.
1. Check if the bank is authorized by the Central Bank
- The first step is to check whether the institution is authorized and supervised by the Central Bank of Brazil.
- This can be done in BC websiteon the way: My BC → Services → Find an institution.
- Unauthorized banks cannot operate in the national financial system.
2. Use official databases
Three types of platforms concentrate reliable information:
- Financial Statements Center (CDSFN), of the Central Bank: on the same page as the Find an Institution service, with the following path: enter the name of the institution → click on the result → click on Financial Statements Center;
- Banco Data website: organizes financial data in an accessible way, with visual schemes and colors (green, orange and red) to indicate the risk of each indicator;
- Each institution’s Investor Relations (IR) website: each institution authorized by the BC is required to maintain an investor relations page, with all financial information and easy-to-read summaries. Path: type the name of the institution + RI in any search engine.
These systems allow you to analyze balance sheets, results and risk indicators.
3. Evaluate key solidity indicators
>> Minimum required in Brazil: 11% for institutions in general, 13% for cooperative banks;
>> Comfortable index: above 15%;
>> A Basel index of 11% means that, for every R$100 loaned, the institution has 11% of its own resources (from partners and shareholders);
>> The bigger it is, the more capacity the bank has to absorb losses.
- Recurring net profit: Consistent profits over time indicate good management.
- Credit portfolio default: percentage of loans overdue for more than 90 days. High indexes are a sign of risk.
- Immobilization index: shows how much of the capital is tied up in fixed assets (such as properties that cannot be sold in times of crisis); high values reduce liquidity.
- Credit rating: ratings assigned by agencies such as Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. Successive relegations trigger the alert. In the case of Banco Master, however, several agencies gave the institution a high rating and low risk.
4. Check the coverage of the Credit Guarantee Fund
For those who invest, it is essential to confirm whether the bank is covered by the FGC, which guarantees up to R$250,000 per Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF) or National Legal Entity Registry (CNPJ), with a global ceiling of R$1 million paid every four years.
The FGC covers the following resources and investments:
- Current and savings accounts;
- CBD and RDB;
- Financial bills of the following types: LCI, LCA, LC, LH, LCD;
- Term deposits;
- Repurchase operations with eligible securities.
- In the event of liquidation, the FGC is the way to recover amounts within the limit.
Resources and investments not covered by the FGC:
- CRI and CRA;
- Debentures;
- Financial bills of the following types: LF, LI, LIG;
- Public bonds, because these papers are covered by the National Treasury;
- Capitalization bonds;
- Fixed income funds: in case of failure, they have a CNPJ separate from the institution and can go to another manager;
- Deposits abroad;
- Judicial deposits.
The account holder must be aware that they will lose these amounts if the institution goes bankrupt.
5. Be wary of non-standard profitability
- Small banks offer higher rates than large, low-risk banks;
- Banks in difficulty can offer rates well above the market average to raise funds quickly;
- Extraordinary returns almost always come with greater risk;
- In the case of CDBs, the maximum recommended rate is 115% of the Interbank Deposit Certificate (CDI). Banco Master offered rates of 140% of the CDI.
6. Pay attention to warning signs
It is not possible to predict exactly whether a bank will be liquidated, but some signs help:
- Continuous fall in the Basel Index;
- Recurring losses on balance sheets;
- Rating downgrade;
- News about investigations or intervention;
- Aggressive funding offers;
- Entry into special Central Bank regimes, such as the Temporary Special Administration Regime (RAET).
In the case of Will Bank, recently liquidated, the Basel Index was negative at 5.3% in June 2024. The Fixed Asset Index was negative at 1.9% on the same date, even with a net profit of R$55.5 billion.
7. Compare with safer investments
To reduce risks, experts highlight:
- Tesouro Direto: credit risk considered the lowest in the country;
- CDBs, LCIs and LCAs from large banks, with high solidity and FGC protection.
