LatinNews Daily - 23 April 2026

*Shareholders of Banco de Brasília (BRB), the bank owned by the government of Brazil’s capital region (Distrito Federal, DF), have agreed to increase the bank’s capital by up to R$8.8bn (US$1.8bn). This effort to boost capital and balance its books comes amid a turbulent time for BRB, due to liquidity pressures and its connections to the controversial private bank Banco Master, which is the subject of a high-profile fraud investigation that has shone a spotlight on possible corruption involving networks of bankers, government officials, lawmakers, judges, and other figures in Brazil’s political and business establishments. In recent years BRB has acquired assets from Banco Master, and there was a failed attempt by the two banks for a merger. Last week the former president of BRB, Paulo Henrique Costa, was arrested due to his alleged involvement in Banco Master’s fraudulent activities.