Traditional banks, online banks and neobanks. Compare fees, CDI savings, PIX and cards.
This comparison puts 10 banks in Brazil side by side, among them Itaú Unibanco, Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Santander Brasil. They belong to different families, branch banks, neobanks, online banks, and that distinction explains most of the pricing differences: a branch bank charges for the account and the branch network, an online bank rarely charges for the account but sends you to the phone, and a neobank costs almost nothing and almost never lends. The table compares account fees, the debit card, overdraft, savings, mortgages, foreign transaction costs and mobile payment, line by line and without an overall score, because an average hides exactly what matters to you. Dedicated offers are broken out for students, youth, premium and business, because the account that suits a student on no income is rarely the one that suits a business.
Select 2 to 4 banks.
Traditional Banks
Online Banks
Neobanks
| Criteria | Itaú Unibanco Traditional | Nubank Neobank | Inter Online |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Fee | Service packages per price list; essential services free (central bank rule) | R$0 (no maintenance fee) | See the bank's price list |
Debit Card | Visa / Mastercard Débito | Mastercard Débito | Mastercard Débito |
Minimum Balance | None | None | None |
Overdraft (Cheque Especial) | Cheque especial (capped at 8% a month by the CMN) | Cheque especial (capped at 8% a month by the CMN) | Cheque especial (capped at 8% a month by the CMN) |
Mobile App | Mobile app | Mobile app | Mobile app |
Branches | Branch network | 100% digital | 100% digital |
PIX (Instant Transfer) | PIX free and unlimited | PIX free and unlimited | PIX free and unlimited |
Savings (CDI / Poupança) | CDBs, poupança (yield per offer) | Account paying 100% of CDI daily; Caixinha Turbo up to 120% of CDI | CDBs, poupança (yield per offer) |
Mortgage | Competitive mortgage rates | Not available | Inter mortgage (competitive rates) |
Investing | Íon Investimentos, CDB, LCI, Funds | CDB, RDB, Funds, Tesouro Direto, Crypto | Inter Invest: CDB, Funds, Stocks, ETFs, Crypto |
Credit Cards | Visa, MC: Platinum, Black, Infinite | MC Platinum / Ultraviolet (no annual fee) | MC Gold, Platinum, Black (no annual fee) |
Apple / Google Pay | Apple Pay + Google Pay | Apple Pay + Google Pay + Samsung Pay | Apple Pay + Google Pay |
Boleto / Checks | Boleto + checks available | Free boleto, no checks | Free boleto, no checks |
Foreign Fees | 3.5% IOF + the bank's FX spread | 3.5% IOF + the bank's FX spread | 3.5% IOF + the bank's FX spread |
Welcome Bonus | Per current offers | – | Cashback via Inter Shop |
Students, youth, premium and business.
| Bank | Available | Offer | Price | Card | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Itaú Unibanco | Itaú jovem | Depends on age | Débito | Youth terms, PIX | |
Banco do Brasil | BB jovem | Depends on age | Débito | Youth terms, PIX | |
Bradesco | Bradesco jovem | Depends on age | Débito | Youth terms, PIX | |
Santander Brasil | Santander jovem | Depends on age | Débito | Youth terms, PIX | |
Caixa Econômica Federal | CAIXA jovem | Depends on age | Débito | Youth terms, PIX | |
Nubank | Conta do Nubank | R$0/mo | Débito / Crédito | No fees, 100% of CDI, free transfers | |
Inter | Inter (conta digital) | See the bank's price list | Débito | Digital account, PIX, Inter Shop cashback | |
C6 Bank | C6 Bank (conta) | See the bank's price list | Débito | Digital account, PIX, card with points or cashback | |
PagBank | PagBank (conta) | R$0/mo if the account is used | Débito | CDB up to 130% of CDI, investment turned into card limit | |
BTG Pactual digital | BTG Pactual (conta) | See the bank's price list | Débito | Investment-focused digital account |
* Most banks offer a free account for university students.
Our recommendations based on your situation.
Free account, automatic yield, zero fees.
Nubank: no maintenance fee, account paying 100% of CDI (up to 120% with Caixinha Turbo). PagBank: free if the account is used, CDB up to 130% of CDI.
Best value with comprehensive services.
C6 Bank: dollar and euro account (C6 Global), card with points or cashback. BTG Pactual: investment platform, Black card with no annual fee with R$30,000 invested.
Need mortgage and branch network.
Caixa: leading mortgage lender, FGTS and Minha Casa Minha Vida, extensive network of branches and Lotéricas. Banco do Brasil: nationwide network, mortgages.
Minimize forex fees and pay abroad.
C6 Global: dollar and euro account. BTG: international account. In every case, the 3.5% IOF applies to card purchases abroad (Decree 12,499/2025), on top of the bank's FX spread.
Free and flexible business account.
Nubank PJ, Inter Empresas, C6 Empresas and PagBank PJ offer digital business accounts with PIX and boletos; compare each offer's fees.
Best yields and premium services.
BTG Pactual: full investment platform, Private Banking, Black card with no annual fee with R$30,000 invested. Itaú Personnalité: dedicated manager and branch network.
PIX is Brazil's instant payment system launched by the Central Bank in 2020. It allows free transfers 24/7, in under 10 seconds, between accounts at any bank. All banks in our comparison offer PIX free for individuals. PIX works around the clock from a key such as a phone number, email or tax number, and it has largely replaced bank slips and card payments for transfers between individuals.
The CDI (Interbank Deposit Certificate) is the benchmark for Brazilian savings; it closely tracks the Selic, cut to 13.75% on 17 September 2026. Nubank pays 100% of CDI on the account (up to 120% with Caixinha Turbo) and PagBank offers CDBs up to 130% of CDI. Poupança pays 0.5% a month + TR as long as the Selic is above 8.5%.
Nubank is Brazil's largest neobank: no maintenance fee, account paying 100% of CDI, free transfers and PIX. PagBank (PagSeguro) is a good alternative for merchants thanks to its card terminal ecosystem, with CDBs up to 130% of CDI.
Yes, the FGC (Credit Guarantee Fund) protects up to R$250,000 per depositor per financial institution. This covers Poupança, CDBs, LCIs, LCAs and current accounts. The guarantee applies to all banks in this comparison. Cover applies per depositor and per institution, with a global ceiling per holder over four years, so large savings are best spread across several banks.
The Cheque Especial is an automatic overdraft in Brazil and very expensive: its interest has been capped at 8% a month since 2020 by the National Monetary Council (CMN). Avoid using it for long and prefer a lower-rate personal loan.
PagBank advertises CDBs up to 130% of CDI and Nubank a Caixinha Turbo up to 120% of CDI, with an account paying 100% of CDI. With the Selic at 13.75%, an investment at 100% of CDI yields about 13.6% gross a year, before income tax that falls with the holding period.
For neobanks (Nubank, Inter, C6), you only need a CPF and a smartphone. Opening is 100% online in minutes. For traditional banks (Itaú, BB, Bradesco), you can open in-branch or online with a CPF, RG and proof of address. Foreigners need an RNE/CRNM and CPF.
Poupança is a regulated savings account yielding 0.5% a month + TR (when Selic > 8.5%). It's income-tax exempt. CDB (Bank Deposit Certificate) is an investment that can yield 100% of CDI or more (the Selic is at 13.75%), but is subject to IOF and income tax based on duration. CDB yields significantly more than Poupança.
The Brazilian banking market is Latin America's largest, dominated by five big groups: Itaú Unibanco, Bradesco, Banco do Brasil (state-owned), Santander Brasil and Caixa Econômica Federal (state-owned, focused on housing). PIX, the instant payment system launched by the Central Bank in 2020, has transformed habits. The FGC (Credit Guarantee Fund) protects deposits up to R$250,000 per depositor per institution.
Brazil has seen a fintech revolution: Nubank, Inter, C6 Bank and PagBank offer digital accounts with little or no maintenance fee, with free 24/7 PIX via QR code, phone, email or CPF. Traditional banks charge monthly service packages but must offer a set of essential services free of charge.
Nubank offers a no-fee account paying 100% of CDI, and Caixinha Turbo up to 120%. Inter combines account, marketplace, investments and insurance in a super-app. C6 Bank offers dollar and euro accounts (C6 Global). PagBank, Mercado Pago and PicPay combine payments, credit and investing. Traditional banks keep the edge in branch networks and mortgages.
Brazilian mortgages (financiamento imobiliário) run over long terms, at rates far above European levels given the high Selic (13.75% since 17 September 2026, after a 15% peak in 2025). Caixa Econômica Federal is the leading lender thanks to FGTS and the Minha Casa Minha Vida programme. Poupança pays 0.5% a month + TR, while CDBs and Tesouro Direto track the Selic.
For a Brazilian resident, Nubank or PagBank suit a no-fee account with automatic yield. Use PIX for everyday transfers. For investing, XP, Rico and BTG Pactual give access to CDBs, Tesouro Direto and funds. For a mortgage, Caixa remains the benchmark thanks to FGTS. Expats must first obtain a CPF.
* Terms checked in October 2026; they may vary. Selic: Central Bank of Brazil (decision of 16/09/2026). This comparison is for informational purposes only. Deposits protected up to R$250,000 (FGC).