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>Brazilians take the entire day off to go to the bank

That is completely false. I can’t imagine where you got this from.

Brazilian baking is years ahead of the US, not that it represents a high bar.




> I can’t imagine where you got this from.

Perhaps from daily life?

There are long lines on most bank branches I go to, unless you're wealthy enough for the manager to pamper you. Red tape in this country is so bad that there is a whole industry to avoid it ("despachantes").

BTW, the trick this industry uses to avoid banking lines is to hire old retired people to buck the line for them (there's a law here giving to old people that privilege). They basically screw everyone else by buying privileges. Some call it the "Brazilian touch" (jeitinho brasileiro), I call it corrupted morals.

> Brazilian baking is years ahead of the US

Really? To do online banking in your computer with Banco do Brasil you need to ask permission to your branch manager and install a specific virus on your computer. I believe the same goes for Bradesco and Itaú. Many ATMs and branches in small towns are being closed and leaving those places without financial services because mobs moved from big cities to rob those places without good police. And, guess what, people there can't do online banking.


Red tape is bad, but obiquious cellphones helps a lot. The US still uses checks and signed credit card receipts. Compared to that Brazil’s banking system is state of the art.

>To do online banking in your computer with Banco do Brasil you need to ask permission to your branch manager and install a virus on your computer

Yes, but most people use the phone app, which is ok. Banking on a computer is bad everywhere.


> and signed credit card receipts

chip & pin rolled out a year and a half or so ago, including to a small general store in rural central Maine.


Nice to know. Thanks.

Brazil has had it for 20 years, though.


I mean, your larger point is correct. As a US->UK immigrant, I won't dispute that the US is behind the times with payment systems.


Online banking in Spain is pretty ok with a computer dude. I mean I have accounts with 4 different banks and only one of them has an awful website. Still usable thoug.


Most banks don't require you to be physically present anymore. I don't know about Banco do Brasil, but I had accounts in Bradesco and Santander, both have a line to call your manager in a call center, and you can do pretty much everything besides getting physical cash from the phone.


Having lived in both the US and Brazil I agree that Brazilian Banking is years ahead than the US. I'm specifically thinking about Nubank (https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/nubank) and Banco Inter ( https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banco_Inter)


Completely true. Brazilian here




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