There are many banks in Brazil, especially in São Paulo. Among the national banks the bigger are preferable, banks like Banco Itaú, Banco Bradesco, Banco do Brasil and Banco Real. Also some multinational banks are represented like Citibank and HSBC. To withdraw money in a cash dispenser (ATM) you must be a client in that bank. With credit cards issued in other countries than Brazil, it is possible to withdraw money only in some selected banks, see exchangeand withdrawal money.

Since 1986 the name of the currency has changed five times, from 'cruzeiro' to 'cruzado' to 'cruzado novo' and back to 'cruzeiro'. Then it became the 'cruzeiro real' and, in July 1994, the 'Real'. At the moment, the monetary unit of Brazil is the Real (pronounced HE-ow); the plural is Reais (pronounced HE-ice). It's made up of 100 centavos. The frustratingly similar coins are: one, five, 10, 25 and 50 centavos. There is also a one-real coin as well as a one-real note. The notes are different colors, so there is no mistaking them. As well as the green one-real note there's a blue/purple five, a red 10, a brown 50 and a blue 100. At present the central bank is introducing differentiated coins and a new 10-real note. The new bank note is launched because of problems with falsification of bank notes.