Measure aimed at borrowers current on payments but facing high interest rates could be announced by early June
Finance Minister Dario Durigan said on Wednesday (6) that the Lula administration is studying a new debt renegotiation program aimed at borrowers who are current on their payments but face high borrowing costs, such as informal workers. The measure is expected to be announced between late May and early June.
Earlier this week, the government launched version 2.0 of the Desenrola debt renegotiation program, targeting delinquent borrowers ranging from middle-class consumers to students financed through the Student Financing Fund (Fies) and small family farmers.
“Informal workers, a group we monitor very closely, do not have fixed monthly income, recurring salaries, or stores with a history of recurring revenue. They need to earn their income day by day, often in a very irregular way. And they are the ones paying the highest interest rates. We are studying a credit line for informal workers to be announced in late May or early June,” Durigan said in an interview with the “Bom Dia, Ministro” program.
Regarding the Fies component of the new Desenrola program, the minister said the government is expected to introduce incentives to encourage students to remain current on their payments.
“Borrowers who are up to date on their payments will also receive some kind of future incentive to continue paying on time. This is being discussed with Banco do Brasil and Caixa Econômica Federal, which are the two main banks operating Fies with us. Together with the initiative for informal workers that I mentioned earlier, we will soon present these measures to the country,” he said.
The new Desenrola program will allow Brazilians earning up to five minimum wages per month to renegotiate debts contracted through January 31, 2026, that are between 90 days and two years overdue. Renegotiations will take place directly on each bank’s platform for credit card debt, overdraft facilities, and personal loans.
The average discount will be 65%, but may range from 30% to 90% depending on the type of debt and how long it has been overdue. The maximum interest rate will be 1.99% per month, close to the lowest levels available in the market.
Borrowers will have up to 48 months to repay, with 35 days to settle the first installment. The limit for the renegotiated debt, after discounts, will be up to R$15,000 per person per financial institution. The minister said the renegotiation could benefit as many as 20 million people.
For Fies borrowers, debts overdue by more than 360 days may be renegotiated with discounts of up to 99% for individuals enrolled in the federal government’s Cadastro Único social registry. For borrowers outside the registry, discounts may reach 77%.
For more recent debts overdue by more than 90 days, borrowers will receive discounts on interest and penalties, as well as a 12% reduction in principal for lump-sum payments, or may repay in up to 150 installments with all interest and penalties waived. Around 1.5 million students could benefit from the measure.
*By Giordanna Neves — Brasília
Source: Valor international
https://valorinternational.globo.com/