Brazil upgrades premium credit card points and pursues faster international payments

Caixa, Brazil's state‑owned bank, has increased the points earned on its Elo Diners Club premium card. The new accrual rates are 3 points per US$ 1 spent on domestic purchases and 4 points per US$ 1 on international purchases, up from 2.5 and 3.5 points respectively. This change moves the Elo Diners Club to the second‑best point‑earning card in Caixa’s portfolio, behind the Caixa Ícone, and is accompanied by benefits such as VIP‑lounge access, bonus points and free additional cards.

At the same time, Brazil is working to reduce the delays and costs of cross‑border settlements. Exporters and multinational firms currently face multi‑day settlement times and high foreign‑exchange spreads. Industry leaders are advocating for a streamlined infrastructure, including the use of stablecoins backed by the real, such as Braza Bank’s BBRL, and fintech‑driven dollar‑denominated accounts. Regulators have shown willingness to integrate these innovations, aiming to bring international payments in line with the country’s real‑time domestic system.