BCB Resolution No. 495 of September 5, 2025, Amending BCB Resolution No. 81 of March 25, 2021, Regarding Authorization Processes for Payment Institutions and Payment Services

BCB RESOLUTION NO. 495, OF SEPTEMBER 5, 2025

Amends BCB Resolution No. 81, of March 25, 2021, which regulates the authorization processes related to the operation of payment institutions and the provision of payment services by other institutions authorized to operate by the Central Bank of Brazil.

The Collegiate Board of the Central Bank of Brazil, in a session held on September 3, 2025, based on the provisions of Articles 6º, §§ 1º and 4º, and 9º of Law No. 12,865, of October 9, 2013, and considering the provisions of Resolution No. 4,282, of November 4, 2013,

R E S O L V E :

Art. 1º BCB Resolution No. 81, of March 25, 2021, published in the Official Gazette of the Union on March 29, 2021, shall enter into force with the following amendments:

“Art. 2º ...................................................................................................................................

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VIII - technical qualification of the administrators, compatible with the functions to be exercised during the term of office;

IX - compliance with the minimum capital and equity requirements provided for in the current regulations; and

X - information on the address of the physical premises of the institution's headquarters.

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§ 5º In proving the requirements referred to in the caput, the Central Bank of Brazil may request technical certification or assessment issued by an independent qualified company.

§ 6º The address referred to in item X of the caput must be of effective and exclusive use by the payment institution, and the indication of a coworking, virtual office, or other shared space as the institution's headquarters is prohibited, except in the case of institutions that are part of the same conglomerate.

§ 7º Payment institutions that were already authorized to operate by the Central Bank of Brazil on September 5, 2025, must comply with the provisions of item X of the caput, observing § 6º.” (NR)

“Art. 17. In the event of denial or archiving of the authorization request for operation where no further appeal is possible, the payment institution that is already providing payment services must, within thirty days counted from the receipt of the notification of the Central Bank of Brazil's decision:

I - cease the provision of payment services;

II - notify the closure of activities to its users and other interested parties, through communication channels and customer service channels, clearly and prominently indicating the procedures and deadlines for the return of funds and the settlement of operations; and

III - refund any existing balances in the payment accounts of its users, transferring them to payment accounts or deposit accounts owned by these users, maintained in institutions authorized to operate by the Central Bank of Brazil.

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Art. 2º The provisions of this Resolution also apply to requests filed before the publication of this Resolution.

Art. 3º §§ 1º to 6º of Article 17 of BCB Resolution No. 81, of March 25, 2021, published in the Official Gazette of the Union on March 29, 2021, are hereby revoked.

Art. 4º This Resolution enters into force on the date of its publication.

GILNEU FRANCISCO ASTOLFI
VIVAN
Regulation Director