The Central Bank of Brazil published its 2025 Financial Citizenship Report, bringing together analysis and indicators on financial inclusion, financial education, consumer protection and citizen participation, and reframing the agenda from expanding access to improving financial well-being. The report points to near-universal inclusion and rapid digitalisation of payments and service delivery, alongside consumer risks linked to credit expansion, fraud and persistent financial stress. By end-2024, 175.2 million adults (96.4%) had a relationship with the financial system and 160.8 million (88.4%) were considered active users, with an average of 6.7 relationships per banked person; mobile-channel transactions reached 273 billion in 2024. Credit exposure extended to 129.2 million people (74% of those with a relationship in the system), with personal loan users more than tripling since 2020 to 41.7 million and around 53 million carrying interest-bearing credit card balances; the average annual rate on revolving card credit rose from 313% in 2020 to 430% at end-2024. Complaint data in 2024 highlighted payroll-deducted credit and credit cards as the most frequent topics in the central bank’s demand register (63,051 and 52,377 complaints respectively), while the report also documents a growing focus on scams and digital fraud controls, and highlights continued scaling of infrastructure initiatives such as Pix and Open Finance, which reached about 62 million active consents from 41 million unique individuals by end-2024.
Central Bank of Brazil 2026-04-13
Central Bank of Brazil publishes 2025 Financial Citizenship Report tracking a shift from broad access to financial well-being
The Central Bank of Brazil’s 2025 Financial Citizenship Report shifts its financial inclusion agenda from access to financial well-being, highlighting near-universal inclusion and rapid digitalisation. By end-2024, 175.2 million adults (96.4%) had a relationship with the financial system, 160.8 million (88.4%) were active users and mobile transactions reached 273 billion. Credit exposure covered 129.2 million people amid sharp growth in personal loans and interest-bearing credit card balances, with average annual revolving card rates at 430%. The report notes high complaint volumes on payroll-deducted credit and credit cards, increased attention to scams and digital fraud, and continued scaling of Pix and Open Finance, which reached about 62 million active consents.