These new measures aim to reduce the risk for the most vulnerable members of the community and encourage fewer people to go out into the streets during the quarantine period

São Paulo, 26 March 2020
Santander Brazil announces new measures to support its customers and the community in the fight to stop the spread of covid-19. This time, the initiatives aim to minimise the risk for elderly people who still need to visit their branches, encourage online shopping and offer discounts for online purchases from pharmacies through the Santander cards Esfera loyalty programme. 

From today, the branches that register the largest numbers of visits from retirees and pensioners will attend these older customers exclusively between 9 am and 10 am. Visit www.santander.com.br/ informa for a list of branches providing this service. 

Additionally, pharmacies adhering to the Esfera loyalty programme will offer a 12% discount on all online purchases made with Santander cards. This measure aims to encourage people to use the online pharmacy portals instead of leaving their homes and make savings on medicines and toiletries, among other basic products sold by these establishments.  

The programme will double the points awarded on all online transactions made using the Bank's cards, as another way of encouraging customers to stay at home and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. 

These initiatives come on top of others announced earlier in the week such as the three month grace period on the payment of instalments of working capital – an advantage offered to companies that receive in a Santander account the proceeds from sales from any bank card machine – and the waiver of current account fees for sole traders (MEIs) who use these amounts to pay utility bills, such as water and power bills, through their account or as a direct debit. The sign up period expires on 30 April. Customers can find more information on www.santander.com.br/cuidar. 

Other measures announced by Santander Brazil from last week. 

For customers: 

• 60 day postponement of upcoming loan instalments, according to the terms and conditions described on the website www.santander.com.br/campanhas/santanderte-apoia. 
• Automatic 10% increase of credit card limits for all non-defaulting customers 

For employees: 

• The Bank will not implement any redundancy programmes in Brazil during the most critical phase of the covid-19 pandemic, unless there is justified cause or due to a breach of the Company's code of ethics. 
• Advance payment in April of the whole 13th salary instalment for all 47 thousand employees and credit lines for business customers wishing to adopt the same measure to support their workers. 
• Increased hygiene and cleaning measures in business areas, and more employees will join the home office system. 

For the community:  

• The import, in partnership with Bradesco and Itaú, of five million covid-19 rapid test kits, in addition to scanners and ventilators, to donate to the Ministry of Health.