Caixa is forced to return R$ 11 million due to irregular TED charges.
The bank reached an agreement with the Central Bank and will have to reimburse amounts, adjusted for inflation (IPCA), to nearly 490 affected customers between 2004 and 2023.
247 - The Brazilian Federal Savings Bank (Caixa Econômica Federal) will have to reimburse approximately R$ 11 million to 489.208 clients after signing an agreement with the Central Bank on June 16th. The agreement refers to the improper charging of fees for Electronic Funds Transfers (TED) linked to the granting of credit. This information was published by Folha de S. Paulo.
According to the commitment agreement signed by the parties, the institution has already returned R$ 9,56 million, leaving R$ 1,47 million to be paid. According to the institution itself... Caixa87% of affected customers have already been reimbursed, and the remaining amounts are being credited directly to customers.
The document obligates the bank to locate and contact affected customers to process refunds, assuming all costs associated with these operations. Furthermore, the refunded amounts must be adjusted for inflation. HICP (National Consumer Price Index), from the date of the improper charge until the effective refund.
If any previous refund was made without full adjustment, the bank will also have to pay the difference, updated by the same inflation index. Caixa will also have to collect R$ 3 million from central bank, in the form of a monetary contribution as a sanction for the irregular practice. The total value of the penalty reaches R$ 3,45 million, including R$ 450 attributed to others involved in the agreement.
The agreement stipulates that any failure to meet deadlines will result in a daily fine of R$ 3 until the obligations are fulfilled or the Central Bank decides on the conclusion of the process. Delay in payment of the monetary contribution will also incur interest of 1% per month and a fine of 2%.
Another relevant clause in the agreement stipulates that, if Caixa fails to identify and reimburse all customers within eight months, it must deposit the remaining amount, also adjusted for inflation, with the Central Bank. Furthermore, the bank will have to hire an external auditor, whose name must be submitted to the Central Bank for approval within five months.
The institution must also submit, within two months, a report produced by its internal audit proving that the irregular practice has ended and that the clauses of the agreement are being complied with.
The signed document does not imply an admission of guilt on the part of Caixa or its representatives, nor does it interfere with any potential criminal proceedings. It is a mechanism created by... central bank in 2017 to resolve administrative conflicts without the need for judicial litigation.
