The idea that money can be made from the poor has attracted much interest in the past couple of years, fuelled by books such as The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid and Banker to the Poor.

Brazil is one market with plenty of potential. Millions of people live near the poverty line. Income distribution is among the most un­equal in the world. More than half of all jobs are in the informal sector. More than half of the economically active population have no bank account.