Politics · Brazil · 19 hrs ago

Brazil tests faster court-ordered bank account freezes at five banks

Brazil tests faster court-ordered bank account freezes at five banks

Brazil’s National Council of Justice and courts are testing faster account freezes at five banks: Nubank, Itaú, Caixa, Banco do Brasil and XP Investimentos.

The change is being made through SisbaJud, the system courts use to send financial-asset search and freeze orders to banks.

Only a judge can order a freeze as part of a court case to collect a debt; banks cannot freeze accounts just because a customer missed a payment.

Under the new procedure, orders can be sent to banks twice a day, allowing some searches and freezes to be completed on the same business day.

A separate feature being tested can keep checking an account for new funds for up to 365 days, within the amount set by the judge.

Legal protections for essential funds remain, including safeguards for wages, pensions and qualifying savings, although the law provides exceptions.

If protected money is frozen, the account holder can challenge the freeze in court; the reports say the test banks are part of a gradual expansion plan, but do not give a specific next date.

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