Santander foresees a new year with a record grain harvest and expands its physical presence in the country

Santander Brasil remains confident in the good performance of national agribusiness and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the development of the sector. The Bank predicts a new year of record grain harvest, with firm prices and positive margins for rural producers, and announces the expansion of its physical service network for rural producers.

“We had a good planting period, without major weather events that could disrupt another record harvest year. The demand for the national product only grows, which helps to keep prices firm. Our optimism with the sector continues and we are increasingly investing in better service to rural producers, with financial and non-financial offers”, says Paulo César Bertolane, executive superintendent of Agribusiness at the Bank.

By 2020, Santander wants to reach 50 Agro Stores in the country. By 2019, 36 business spaces were opened that have a commercial vocation for the segment, use digital solutions and there are no cash transactions. “It is a successful service model, which provides a safe environment completely focused on serving customers and their businesses. We are increasingly working closely with rural entrepreneurs, not only with financial offers, but by understanding the entrepreneur's real needs and guiding them to follow the best path to growth”, highlights Bertolane.

In this context, Santander reaffirms its support for the Safra Rally, a technical expedition organized by Agroconsult, for the fourth consecutive year. The technical expedition covers the main soybean and corn producing regions in Brazil and the Bank will have the participation of agronomists, managers and support from Webmotors, the largest Brazilian automotive portal, in the 11 teams in the field that will evaluate the soybean and corn crops second harvest.

In addition to the opportunity to expose the brand in the main grain producing regions of the country, presence at the Rally became part of the Bank's internalization in the country. “It is an important action to bring the financial institution closer to rural entrepreneurs and a great tool for support in building financial solutions or, for example, analyzing locations for new Agro Stores”, explains Bertolane.

Since 2016, Santander has been strengthening its service structure for the sector. It is the Bank that grows the most in granting credit to the sector. The Bank's expanded credit portfolio (which considers Mandatory and Free Resources, BNDES, Funcafé and CPR and CDCA securities) reached R$20 billion in 2019, growth of 22,5% compared to 2018 (R$16,325 billion).

Santander Brasil has already opened Agro stores in Cristalina (GO), Naviraí (MS), Posse (GO), Campo Novo do Parecis (MT), Canarana (MT), Paragominas (PA), Balsas (MA), Primavera do Leste ( MT), Unaí (MG), Maracaju (MS), Redenção (PA), Alta Floresta (MT), Mineiros (GO), Nova Mutum (MT), Vilhena (RO), Chapadão do Sul (MS), São Gabriel D 'Oeste (MS), Cianorte (PR), Cáceres (MT), Juara (MT), Gurupi (TO), Pato Branco (PR), Frederico Westphalen (RS), Sarandi (RS), Porangatu (GO), Querência ( MT), Quirinópolis (GO), Marechal Cândido Rondon (PR), Monte Carmelo (MG), Santo Antônio da Platina (PR), Rio Brilhante (MS), Sidrolândia (MS), João Pinheiro (MG), Campos Novos (SC ), Bom Jesus (PI) and Ibirubá (RS).