Brazil stands out as one of the most advanced countries in banking technology in the world. Few people know that global innovations, such as the ATM, had their origins on Brazilian soil, reflecting the adaptability and creativity of the national industry.
Despite its relevance, many fascinating stories from the Brazilian financial sector remain unknown. In a nation of continental proportions, the banking scene is marked by unique experiences and surprising innovations.
These episodes are highlighted in “No Code – The Untold Stories of Banking Technology in Brazil”, a book written by journalist Claudia Mancini. The work brings together almost one hundred previously unpublished stories and addresses, with good humor, the behind-the-scenes of the Information Technology (IT) area of the country’s main banks, highlighting the resilience and constant search for innovation that shaped the sector.
The official launch of the book will be this Monday, November 25, bringing the public an unprecedented look at the transformations of the Brazilian banking system.
No Code – The untold stories of banking technology in Brazil
No Code – From Brazil to the world
The stories in the book include remarkable episodes, such as a group of executives who found a loophole in the regulations to create Brazil's first digital bank. At the time, the Central Bank of Brazil recognized that regulating without dialoguing with the industry and understanding technological innovation would be ineffective, since technology usually arrives before the laws.
The book brings together almost 100 stories told by 30 of the most influential Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) in the Brazilian financial sector. The stories range from the days of manual processes to the advances of the digital age, offering a unique overview of the evolution of the sector.
Among the curiosities highlighted are the use of helicopters, in the pre-internet era, to deliver lists of bank balances; an unusual episode in which Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, asked for a loan to buy a snack; and the behind-the-scenes of a negotiation that brought Bill Gates to Brazil to star in the campaign of a bank that was not even his main client.
No Code was organized by references from the Brazilian banking sector
The book “No Code – The Untold Stories of Banking Technology in Brazil” was organized by prominent figures in the financial and technology sector: Jorge Krug, a reference in banking IT and innovation at Banrisul; Carlos Augusto de Oliveira, founder of Banco Original, the first digital bank in Brazil; Keiji Sakai, responsible for transforming Ciab (now Febraban Tech) into one of the largest events in the sector in the world; and Marcos Cantarino, a specialist in relationship marketing in the banking sector and founder of the publishing house Canteiros.
Furthermore, in an interview with BeInCrypto, the author revealed that the vast material gathered during the production of the book already motivates the group to plan a second edition.
After a year of intense work and many new stories yet to be told, the first edition finally hits the shelves. Are you curious? The official launch will take place today, Monday, November 25, at 7 pm, at Livraria da Travessa in the Villa Lobos Shopping Mall, in São Paulo.
The article Book shows how Brazil was, and still is, a protagonist in banking technology was first seen on BeInCrypto Brazil.