Brazilian credit cooperatives surpass private banks in rural credit

Credit cooperatives in Brazil have surpassed private banks in rural credit volume, totaling R$ 45.76 billion between January and July 2026. This represents 28% of the R$ 164.02 billion in total rural credit contracted in the country during the same period. This marks a significant shift from the previous year, where cooperatives trailed private banks by R$ 1.46 billion; in 2026, they led by R$ 10.45 billion.

According to data from the Central Bank released by Confebras, the cooperative system was the only major financial group to record growth, increasing 1.5% compared to the first seven months of 2025. In contrast, public banks saw a 16.4% decrease and private banks experienced a 24.1% reduction in rural credit volume.

Luiz Lesse, president of Confebras, noted that cooperatives maintain a physical presence in 629 Brazilian municipalities, often serving as the sole financial institution in areas with limited banking services. This presence supports small and medium-sized producers.

Separately, legal discussions are arising regarding the professional classification of employees within these cooperatives. Workers performing roles such as relationship managers, branch managers, or commercial assistants—who manage client portfolios and financial products—may qualify for rights typically reserved for the financial sector, including special six-hour workdays and specific salary floors.