Brazilian banks post record profits as unions push for higher wages
In 2025 the Brazilian banking sector posted record earnings. The five largest banks earned a combined profit of R$124 billion and the sector’s total net profit was R$171 billion, while net worth reached R$1.2 trillion. Profitability averaged 2.3 times the Selic rate and three times inflation. Meal vouchers lost 13 % of purchasing power since 2019, prompting unions to call for a 40 % increase to restore 2019 levels. Since 2016 payroll expenses fell 7 % and the profit‑sharing component dropped 11 %.
The Comando Nacional das Bancárias e dos Bancários and the Banco do Brasil employee commission are negotiating new wage agreements. Their demands include a real salary increase, higher profit‑sharing, a 125 % overtime rate with integration into weekly rest, and adjustments to meal‑voucher values.
Senator Rogério Marinho criticised the Lula administration, saying the banks’ profit of R$255 billion in 2025 was the highest ever and that economic policies favour banks over workers, labeling the approach a “Robin Hood à l’inverse”.
Entities: Banco do Brasil · Brazilian banking sector · Brazilian banks · Caixa Econômica Federal · Comando Nacional das Bancárias e dos Bancários · Félaban · Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva · Lula administration · Senator Rogério Marinho · Single negotiation table (Mesa única de negociação) · Sérgio Takemoto
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The banking sector’s net worth reached R$ 1.2 trillion in 2025, about 25 times larger than the combined net worth of the electronics and mechanical sectors (R$ 48 billion).
- [DISPUTED] In 2025 the five largest Brazilian banks earned a combined profit of R$ 124 billion and the sector’s total net profit was R$ 171 billion.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The negotiation agenda includes a 125 % overtime rate, integration of overtime into weekly rest, mandatory recording of work hours in all applications, and reforms to compensation and hour‑tracking.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Since 2016, banks’ payroll expenses have fallen 7 %, with the profit‑sharing portion decreasing 11 %, despite collective‑bargaining rules requiring up to 15 % of profits to be shared.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Average bank profitability after the pandemic was 2.3 times the Selic rate and three times inflation.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Brazilian banking union presented demands to Fenaban for real salary increases, profit‑sharing participation and higher meal‑voucher values.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Meal vouchers lost 13 % purchasing power between 2019 and 2025, and a 40 % increase is needed to restore 2019 levels, raising the monthly cost from R$ 924.47 to R$ 1,293.73.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Banco do Brasil employee commission met with bank management on Friday, 31 May in São Paulo to negotiate remuneration, career plan, and working conditions.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The bank workers’ union demanded overtime payment at a 125 % rate and its integration into weekly rest. (ad4beec4-1315-41dc-ab09-deefcdd3b1b6)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Since 2016 banks' payroll expenses fell 7 % and the profit‑sharing component fell 11 %. (90e51517-8815-4e83-a8df-4f2b25122833)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Bank profitability in 2025 averaged 2.3 times the Selic rate and three times inflation. (90e51517-8815-4e83-a8df-4f2b25122833)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In 2025 the five largest Brazilian banks earned a combined profit of R$124 billion. (90e51517-8815-4e83-a8df-4f2b25122833)