Desenrola 3.0: Government Buys Debts, Cuts Interest Rates

Program aims to acquire R$150 billion in debts up to R$10,000 with a 90% discount.

The federal government launched Desenrola 3.0 this Friday (25), a new phase of the debt renegotiation program, to alleviate the record indebtedness of Brazilian families. The measure was announced during an event in São Paulo, shortly before the elections, and immediately gained prominence in online searches.

What is Desenrola 3.0

This is the third round of the Desenrola program, which now provides for the purchase of non-performing loan portfolios by financial institutions. The State intends to acquire R$150 billion in debts – which correspond to 50% of the total estimated stock of R$300 billion – paying only 10% of the nominal value, i.e., with a 90% discount.

How the portfolio acquisition works

Banks must present their portfolios in an auction scheduled for November. The proposal offering the largest discount will win, and the National Treasury or another federal financial institution will carry out the acquisition. The maximum cost for the Union is limited to R$15 billion, which will be included in the Annual Budget Bill Projects for 2027 and 2028.

Who can benefit

Credit card debts (installment and revolving) and unsecured personal loans will be covered, with a maximum value of R$10,000 and delays between two and four and a half years – still before the five-year statute of limitations. The discount obtained will be fully passed on to the debtor, who can settle the remaining balance in cash or pay in installments with interest rates defined by the National Monetary Council.

Impact on budget and indebtedness

The R$15 billion disbursement will not result in an increase in global expenditure, according to Planning Minister Bruno Moretti, as it will be done by reallocating funds between budget items. The expectation is that the measure will reduce the commitment of family income, which already exceeds 28% according to the Central Bank, and contain over-indebtedness.

Relation to the ban on online betting

The announcement of Desenrola 3.0 occurred alongside the measure prohibiting online betting (bets). The government linked the two actions, arguing that combating gambling addiction complements the debt restructuring effort, preventing families from returning to indebtedness after renegotiation.

With information from G1, Estadão.