BCB Announces Measures for SMEs in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

The measures announced by BCB include the following:

• Reduction in capital requirement for smaller institutions—The capital requirement for financial institutions in the regulatory Segment 5 (S5) has been reduced. The expected impact of the measure includes potential liquidity increase of BRL 1.3 billion, which may raise the provision of credit by up to BRL 16.5 billion. The re-establishment of the original capital requirement will be gradual, starting in May 2021 and ending in May 2022 (Resolution 4.813). 
• Working Capital Program for Business Preservation—This measure complements the programs already announced by the government with regard to working capital and providing credit for micro, small, and medium-size companies. The loans granted under the program will have a minimum term of three years, with a grace period of six months. The credit risk of these operations will be fully assumed by the financial institutions. In July 2020, the National Monetary Council (CMN) also decided to regulate the working capital program (Resolution 4.838).
• Purchase of private securities—The regulation of the purchase of private securities by BCB in the secondary market was announced. The purpose is to provide liquidity to the private credit market, allowing the sector to function better. 
• Deduction on reserve requirement on savings deposits—For up three years, financial institutions are allowed to deduct up to 30% of their reserve requirements on savings deposits, provided that the deducted amount is used in credit operations for micro and small companies. Under the same conditions, the deduction may also be applied to the balance of interbank transfers made by cooperative banks to individual cooperatives. Financial institutions must provide 5% of the loans to micro and small companies by August 10, 2020, with another 5% of loans by September 08, 2020. If a financial institution fails to comply with the measure, it will not receive remuneration on the 30% on its savings-reserve balance until the end of 2020 (Circular No. 4.033).
• Risk-Weighting Factor—The Risk Weighting Factor in DPGE has been reduced from 50% to 35%. For this, the depositor must be an institution associated with the Credit Guarantee Fund (Circular No. 4.030). 
• Real Estate as collateral for more than one loan—The measure allows the use of the same real estate as collateral for additional credit operations with the original creditors, at their own discretion. The objective of the measure is to stimulate the credit market and preserve financial stability. In July 2020, CMN decided to regulate this measure (Resolution 4.837).

Related Links (in Portuguese)

• Press Release on Relief Measures
• Press Release on Regulation of Certain Measures
• Resolution 4.813
• Resolution 4.838
• Resolution 4.837
• Circular 4.033
• Circular 4.030
• Presentation on Relief Measures (PDF)
• Overview of COVID-19 Measures (in English)

Keywords: Americas, Brazil, Banking, COVID-19, Credit Risk, Regulatory Capital, Collateral, SME, BCB