TCU authorizes use of forgotten bank funds for Novo Desenrola guarantees

The plenary of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) has overturned a previous injunction to allow the use of forgotten bank funds as guarantees for the Novo Desenrola Brasil program. In a 5-to-3 vote, the court followed the suggestion of Minister Odair Cunha, who argued that maintaining the suspension would create legal uncertainty for banks providing loans.

The dispute centered on whether funds held by financial institutions as “money to be returned” to individuals and legal entities could be transferred to the Operations Guarantee Fund (FGO) to cover default risks. Previously, Minister Walton Alencar Rodrigues had suspended the use of these resources, arguing they had a public nature and should have been processed through the National Treasury to ensure fiscal transparency.

The decision affects only new operations; existing credit contracts remain valid. The Novo Desenrola program, a federal initiative to assist citizens in renegotiating debts, is scheduled to end on August 31.