After Fitch downgrades Master's rating, CDB rates skyrocket

After Fitch downgraded Banco Master's rating to B-, its CDB (Certificate of Deposit) rates soared, reflecting market insecurity and liquidity pressure following the veto of its acquisition by Banco de Brasília, as investors seek to protect themselves.

O Globo
2025-09-11
After Fitch downgrades Master's rating, CDB rates skyrocket

Rating Downgrade and Impact on CDBs

Fitch Ratings agency downgraded Banco Master's rating from B+ to B-, leading to a surge in its CDB rates and exposing market insecurity. This revision comes after the rejection of the bank's acquisition by Banco de Brasília, increasing pressure on Master's liquidity.

Details of Fitch's Downgrade

The Central Bank's veto of BRB's acquisition of Master led Fitch to revise the bank's risk rating to negative, falling from B+ to B-. This change, according to Fitch's report, was already a foreseen risk scenario, indicating greater uncertainty about the bank's stability and raising funding costs, which translates into higher CDB rates due to increased selling pressure in the market.

Secondary Market Scenario and Expert Opinion

In the secondary market, Banco Master's CDBs are traded at a steep discount, increasing profitability, with offers reaching 180% of the CDI or fixed rates of 32% per year, according to XP. Rafael Dadoorian from Convexa Investimentos explains that uncertainty drives investors to sell, pushing down prices and inflating rates. Eduardo Bruzzi from BBL Advogados adds that investors with more than R$ 250,000 seek to minimize losses by selling assets not covered by the FGC.

FGC Coverage and Portfolio Adjustments by Investors

The Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC) protects investors with Master's CDBs up to R$ 250,000 per CPF/CNPJ, ensuring the invested amount and returns in case of insolvency. Additionally, funds and institutional investors, with limits for risk assets, may be selling Banco Master's CDBs after Fitch's downgrade to adjust their portfolios, as per risk recommendations.