Banco Palmas

Instituto Banco Palmas, in Conjunto Palmeiras on the edge of Fortaleza, describes itself as the first community bank in Brazil. It works to open up financial and banking services to people in the city's outer neighbourhoods and favelas, with local associations taking part in how it runs. It is known for its social currency, Palmas, and supports the e-dinheiro digital platform for community currencies.

Banco Palmas runs a range of local projects, including PalmaSolar, a community solar plant in Conjunto Palmeiras that it financed and manages, as well as Palmaslab, Palmafashion, Prato Colorido, a basic income project, courses and a zero carbon initiative. The e-dinheiro app and internet banking, run by Instituto E-dinheiro Brasil, let communities run their own social currencies. It also keeps a collection on the history of social currencies in Brazil.