BCB Resolution No. 51, of December 16, 2020

Establishes procedures for authorization and cancellation of authorization of debits in account.

The Collegiate Board of the Central Bank of Brazil, in a session held on December 15, 2020, based on arts. 6 and 7, item III, of Law No. 11,795, of October 8, 2008, and 6, § 1, 9, items II, IX and X, and 15 of Law No. 12,865, of October 9, 2013, and having in view the provision in art. 13 of Resolution No. 4,282, of November 4, 2013,

RESOLVES:

CHAPTER I

OF THE OBJECT AND SCOPE OF APPLICATION

Art. 1. This Resolution establishes procedures for authorization and cancellation of authorization of debits in pre-paid payment accounts and other procedures to be observed by financial institutions and other institutions authorized to operate by the Central Bank of Brazil holding pre-paid payment accounts. (Amended by BCB Resolution No. 552, of 3/3/2026.)

Art. 2. For the purposes of this Resolution, it is considered:

I - depository institution: institution authorized to operate by the Central Bank of Brazil holding the pre-paid payment account to be debited; and

II - recipient institution: institution authorized to operate by the Central Bank of Brazil recipient of the resources related to the debit in account or holder of the account to be credited.

Art. 2-A. The authorization and cancellation of authorization of debits in the accounts mentioned in art. 1 that have as final user the recipient of the resources related to the debit authorization a legal entity or entity not authorized to operate by the Central Bank of Brazil must observe, exclusively, the specific regulation that disciplines Pix Automatic. (Included, from 13/10/2025, by BCB Resolution No. 505, of 25/9/2025.)

§ 1. The provision in the caput does not apply to cases where the debit authorization involves a depository institution that is also the recipient of the resources, in which cases the provision in this Resolution must be observed. (Included, from 13/10/2025, by BCB Resolution No. 505, of 25/9/2025.)

§ 2. The depository and recipient institutions must adapt the contracts and existing debit authorizations that fall under the provision in the caput and implement the other measures necessary to comply with the duties provided in this article by January 1, 2026, with the exception of contracts and debit authorizations related to payments of taxes, public service provision agreements, and health plans, whose adaptation must be implemented by January 1, 2027. (Amended by BCB Resolution No. 544, of 24/12/2025.)

CHAPTER II

OF DEBIT AUTHORIZATION

Art. 3. The execution of debits in pre-paid payment accounts depends on prior authorization by its holder.

§ 1. The authorization of debits in pre-paid payment accounts may be formalized at the depository institution or through the recipient institution.

§ 2. The authorization referred to in the caput must:

I - have a specific purpose;

II - specify the account to be debited;

III - be provided in writing or electronically; and

IV - stipulate the term, which may be indefinite.

§ 3. The authorization referred to in the caput may specify dates for the execution of debits.

§ 4. It is admitted, when it is an authorization of debits formalized by the client at the depository institution, the specification of more than one account for the execution of debits, respecting the order of precedence defined by the holder.

Art. 4. In the cases of debits related to the payment of credit operations or financial leasing, in addition to the requirements contained in art. 3, the authorization of debits in pre-paid payment accounts must:

I - be individualized and linked to each contract; and

II - contain an unequivocal manifestation of the account holder regarding the eventual option to execute debits resulting from a due obligation, including through partial postings.

Sole paragraph. The manifestation must appear in a prominent form in the operation contract, with the possibility of free choice by the holder of the options mentioned in item II of the caput.

CHAPTER III

OF DEBIT AUTHORIZATION THROUGH THE RECIPIENT INSTITUTION

Art. 5. The authorization of debits in pre-paid payment accounts formalized by the holder through the recipient institution must observe the following procedures:

I - the communication between the recipient and depository institutions must be carried out electronically, with a minimum advance of ten days for the execution of the debit by the depository institution;

II - in the case of debits related to operations referred to in art. 4, the communication must:

a) inform that it is an authorization of debit related to operations of the kind; and

b) indicate the debit options defined by the client referred to in item II of art. 4; and

III - the depository institution must communicate to the account holder and to the recipient institution the acceptance of the authorization for the debit in account within two business days counted from the date of its receipt.

§ 1. The electronic means for the communication referred to in item I of the caput requires:

I - the adoption of a unique common standard among the institutions involved; and

II - the full accessibility of the institutions.

§ 2. The procedures provided in this article apply to services provided by the recipient institution itself or by institutions and entities belonging to the same prudential conglomerate.

CHAPTER IV

OF CANCELLATION OF DEBIT AUTHORIZATION

Art. 6. The holder of the pre-paid payment account is assured the right to cancel the authorization of debits.

Sole paragraph. The cancellation of the authorization of debits in pre-paid payment accounts may be formalized at the depository institution or through the recipient institution.

Art. 7. The cancellation of the authorization of debits in pre-paid payment accounts formalized through the recipient institution must observe the following procedures:

I - the recipient institution must send to the depository institution the cancellation request received from the holder within two business days counted from the receipt; and

II - the communication between the recipient and depository institutions must be carried out electronically, observing the provision in § 1 of art. 5, with a minimum advance of one business day for the execution of the cancellation of the debit by the depository institution.

Art. 8. The depository institution must communicate to the account holder and, if applicable, also to the recipient institution, the acceptance of the cancellation of the authorization of debits in pre-paid payment accounts within two business days counted from the date of its receipt.

Art. 9. The cancellation of the authorization of debits in pre-paid payment accounts related to operations referred to in art. 4 must be requested by the holder through the recipient institution, observing the provision in the caput of art. 6.

Sole paragraph. The cancellation referred to in the caput may be carried out at the depository institution, if the client declares not to recognize the authorization.

Art. 10. The closure of all accounts subject to the authorization of debits, without the corresponding indication of another account to replace them, is equivalent to the cancellation of the granted authorization.

CHAPTER V

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Art. 11. The depository institution must adopt procedures and controls that confirm the identity of the holder and ensure the authenticity of the authorization and the cancellation of the authorization of debits in account.

Sole paragraph. In the case of authorization and cancellation of the authorization of debits requested by the holder through the recipient institution, the adoption of the procedures and controls referred to in the caput must be carried out exclusively by this institution, even when involving services provided by institutions and entities of the same prudential conglomerate.

Art. 11-A. The provision in arts. 5, 7 and 9, as well as in the sole paragraph of art. 11, does not apply when the depository and recipient institutions are part of the same prudential conglomerate or credit cooperative system. (Included, from 1/9/2021, by BCB Resolution No. 123, of 5/8/2021.)

Art. 12. The depository institution must make available to the account holder the following information: (Amended, from 1/9/2021, by BCB Resolution No. 123, of 5/8/2021.)

I - the list of active debit authorizations in account on the date of consultation by the holder; and

II - the values of the debits processed related to the authorizations referred to in item I to be posted in the account, at least, in the next two business days counted from the date of consultation by the holder.

§ 1. The provision in item I of the caput does not apply to debit authorizations related to the collection of fees on an occasional basis, as well as charges and taxes resulting from credit operations or services contracted by the holder. (Included, from 1/9/2021, by BCB Resolution No. 123, of 5/8/2021.)

§ 2. The information mentioned in the caput must be made available in a specific statement or specific section of the account statement when the holder is a natural person, including individual entrepreneur, or a legal entity classified as a microenterprise or small business, in accordance with Complementary Law No. 123, of December 14, 2006. (Included, from 1/9/2021, by BCB Resolution No. 123, of 5/8/2021.)

Art. 13. The documents proving the authorization of debits, including its authenticity and its eventual cancellation, as well as the declaration referred to in the sole paragraph of art. 9, must be kept available to the Central Bank of Brazil for at least five years, counted from the end of the term of the authorization.

Art. 14. The institutions must indicate to the Central Bank of Brazil a director responsible for complying with the obligations provided in this Resolution.

Sole paragraph. The director mentioned in the caput may perform other functions in the institution, provided there is no conflict of interest.

CHAPTER VI

FINAL PROVISIONS

Art. 15. The institutions mentioned in art. 1 must observe the requirements, deadlines, procedures and controls cited in art. 3, §§ 2 and 3, in art. 5, § 1, item I, and § 2, as well as in arts. 6, 7, 11, 11-A and 13, when, in the capacity of recipient institution of resources, they receive the authorization and the request for cancellation of authorization of debits in deposit accounts or salary accounts. (Amended by BCB Resolution No. 552, of 3/3/2026.)

Art. 16. The following are revoked:

I - Circular No. 4,022, of June 3, 2020; and

II - BCB Resolution No. 26, of October 23, 2020.

Art. 17. This Resolution enters into force on March 1, 2021.

Otávio Ribeiro Damaso
Director of Regulation