Money talks: the state bank of Brazil's Federal District, which contains capital city Brasilia, has been in buy-out negotiations with Banco do BrasilThe economic downturn has temporarily alleviated the pressure on Brazil's regional banks. They are using that breathing space to seek efficiencies, including cost cutting, improving customer service and seeking capital from new sources. They need to move fast: as national banks recover, acquisition of regional banks will once again become an attractive expansion strategy. Writer John Rumsey
Key country: Brazil is the most important market in Latin America for HSBCHSBC's spectacular expansion in Latin America over the past 10 years has certainly paid dividends, with the group now the fifth largest in the region. Head of HSBC Latin America, Emilson Alonso, offers his views on the business and its strategy for the future. Writer Jane Monahan
State-owned institution Banco do Brasil has dethroned Itaú-Unibanco to once again become the country's biggest bank. Now there is a debate about whether such rapid growth is sustainable. Writer John Rumsey
The top Latin American banks are, as usual, headed by Brazilian lenders. And it is in Brazil that the biggest growth story took place last year. Banco Itaú and Unibanco merged in November 2008, forming the largest bank in the country.
With the panic subsiding fast, Brazil's equity markets have staged an astonishing turnaround allowing canny investment banks to find their feet in the country again. Writer John Rumsey
Luciano Coutinho, BNDES president
National development banks in Latin America such as Brazil's BNDES and Mexico's Nafinsa are playing an important role in keeping funds flowing in the region, but there is a danger of them being over-stretched. Writer Jane Monahan
Strict regulation, high capital and reserve requirements, and low levels of debt mean Brazil's banks are flourishing and in a good position to capitalise if their US and European competitors should pull back. Writer Brian Caplen
Cover stars: Brazilian bankers are still feted rather than reviled, unlike their colleagues in the US and Europe
John Rumsey, contributing editor of The Banker
As corporate social responsibility increases in prominence within business models, new strategies for implementation are being tried and tested across the banking industry. In Brazil, corporate governance has progressed significantly in recent years, yet it still has a long way to go, as The Banker's round table revealed. The round table is sponsored by Bradesco but independently edited by The Banker.
Jorge Sant’Anna, Cetip
After the merger of Brazil’s stock and derivatives exchanges, the country’s range of derivatives is fast expanding. John Rumsey reports.
Márcio Cypriano, president of Bradesco
The outcome of the tussle for ABN AMRO will have a decisive effect on the Brazilian banking scene, which is currently dominated by domestic players. John Rumsey reports.
The former UBS banker talks about his solo venture to create BTG, a Brazilian trading house-cum-merchant bank based in São Paulo. Writer John Rumsey.
After the giddy levels of flotation activity seen in Brazil in recent years, even usually optimistic bankers are not anticipating much new IPO business before the second half of 2009, at the earliest. Writer John Rumsey.
Almir Guilherme Barbassa, Petrobras CFO
The prospect of government meddling in the Tupi offshore fields has caused much alarm – but not for Petrobras, says CFO Almir Guilherme Barbassa. Writer Courtney Fingar.
Brazil’s banks are coming to terms with new regulations on the tariffs they levy on consumers. Writer Michael Imeson.
Celina Vansetti-Hutchins, senior analyst at Moody's in New York
Gerdau steel plant in Brazil: issued a $1.25bn investment grade bond in November
