Regional Development Bank of the Far South

The Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE) is a public development bank created jointly by the three southern states of Brazil — Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná. Founded on 15 June 1961 by governors Leonel Brizola, Celso Ramos, and Ney Braga, it was designed to counterbalance the concentration of resources and investment in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais. The name "Extremo Sul" (Far South) reflects the regional division of the time, when São Paulo was still classified as part of the South. BRDE is a financial institution of fomento (development promotion) controlled by the three southern states, with financial and administrative autonomy. It operates as a long-term lender for investment projects across agribusiness, industry, commerce and services, innovation, energy, and infrastructure. It also channels resources from federal institutions such as BNDES, Finep, FGTS, and FCO, and finances the isolated acquisition of domestically produced machinery and equipment. Its interest rates are typically below market levels, and it offers grace and repayment periods aligned with project payback. The bank is headquartered in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, with branch agencies in Florianópolis (Santa Catarina) and Curitiba (Paraná). It also maintains representative offices in Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, and an outreach space in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul. In the Southern Region, BRDE is present in 16 municipalities through its outreach spaces. At the end of 2021, it had 469 employees across the three states. BRDE is subject to oversight by the Tribunal de Contas and supervision by the Central Bank of Brazil. Its administrative and organizational structure is defined by an internal regiment established by CODESUL and by constitutive acts approved by the legislative assemblies of the member states. The bank emphasizes sustainability — branding itself as "O Banco Verde" (The Green Bank) — and supports projects in clean and renewable energy, sustainable water management, tourism, health, and inclusive education. It also has experience in structuring public-private partnerships (PPPs) and concessions.

The Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE) was founded on 15 June 1961 by the governors of Brazil's three southern states: Leonel Brizola of Rio Grande do Sul, Celso Ramos of Santa Catarina, and Ney Braga of Paraná. Its creation was a deliberate response to the heavy concentration of financial resources and industrial investment in the southeastern states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais. At the time, Brazil's official regional division (proposed by IBGE in 1945) still included São Paulo in the Southern Region; the contemporary division dates from 1970. This historical context explains the choice of the term "Extremo Sul" (Far South) in the institution's name. From its inception, BRDE was conceived as a development bank — a financial institution of fomento — controlled by the three member states but endowed with financial and administrative autonomy. Its administrative and organizational structure is determined by an internal regiment established by CODESUL (Conselho de Desenvolvimento e Integração Sul) and by constitutive acts approved by the legislative assemblies of the member states. The bank is subject to oversight by the Tribunal de Contas and to supervision by the Central Bank of Brazil. Over the decades, BRDE has acted as a key channel for long-term investment financing in Southern Brazil. It operates as a repassador (on-lender) of resources from federal institutions such as BNDES, Finep, FGTS, and FCO, directing them to projects in agribusiness, industry, commerce and services, innovation, energy, and infrastructure. It also finances the isolated acquisition of domestically produced machinery and equipment. Its lending terms typically feature interest rates below those charged by the market and grace and repayment periods compatible with the payback of the projects financed. Whenever possible, it provides working capital associated with fixed investment. Headquartered in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, BRDE maintains branch agencies in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, and Curitiba, Paraná. It also has two representative offices — one in Rio de Janeiro and one in Brasília — and an outreach space in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul. Within the Southern Region, the bank is present in 16 municipalities through its outreach spaces. At the end of 2021, it counted 469 employees across the three states. In recent years, BRDE has emphasized sustainability, branding itself as "O Banco Verde" (The Green Bank) and "O Banco da Sustentabilidade" (The Bank of Sustainability). It supports projects in clean and renewable energy generation and transmission, sustainable water management, tourism recognized by the Ministry of Tourism, and health and inclusive education. The bank has also developed expertise in structuring public-private partnerships (PPPs) and concessions, and it maintains a Transparency Portal in compliance with Brazil's Federal Law No. 12,527 of 2011 (Access to Information Law).

• 2021

  At year-end, BRDE had 469 employees across the three member states.

• 1970

  Contemporary regional division of Brazil established, separating São Paulo from the South.

• 1961

  Founded on 15 June by the governors of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná.

A public development bank focused on long-term financing and regional competitiveness in Southern Brazil, with a strong sustainability orientation.

• Crédito Simples BRDE

  A simplified credit line aimed at companies.

• Municipal Development Financing

  Financing for municipal projects that promote development in the Southern Region.

• Agribusiness Chain Financing

  Financing for the entire agribusiness production chain.

• Clean and Renewable Energy Financing

  Support for clean and renewable energy generation and transmission projects.

• Innovation Financing

  Support for innovation projects presented by bold companies.

• Sustainable Water Management Financing

  Support for projects seeking sustainable water management and expanded access.

• Tourism Financing

  Support for enterprises recognized by the Ministry of Tourism.

• Health and Inclusive Education Financing

  Support for projects promoting health and inclusive, equitable education.

1. 1BRDE Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sulbrde.com.br
2. 2O BRDE - BRDE Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sulbrde.com.br
3. 3Sobre o Portal - BRDE Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sulbrde.com.br
4. 4Regional Development Bank of the Far South - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul - Wikipediapt.wikipedia.org