What is a FGC Guarantee?
The FGC (Fundo Garantidor de Créditos) is like an insurance for your investments in banks. If the bank goes bankrupt, the FGC returns your money — up to R$ 250,000 per CPF per financial institution.
What is covered
- CDB (Certificado de Depósito Bancário)
- LCI and LCA
- Savings account
- Checking account
- RDB
- Exchange letters
What is NOT covered
- Stocks
- Investment funds
- Debentures
- Treasury Direct (has a federal government guarantee)
- CRI and CRA
- Private pension
Limits
- R$ 250,000 per CPF per institution
- R$ 1,000,000 in total (global ceiling, renewed every 4 years)
Practical strategy
If you have R$ 500,000 to invest in CDB:
- Put R$ 250,000 in Bank A
- Put R$ 250,000 in Bank B
- Both are 100% covered by the FGC
Important tip
Smaller banks usually pay higher rates (120-130% of CDI) precisely because they are less well-known. With the FGC guarantee, the risk is virtually the same as a large bank — but the return is higher.