Brazil’s central bank is studying measures to contain rising household debt risks, with lender-focused restrictions likely to come before an IMF-recommended cap on borrowers’ debt-service-to-income ratios. The ratio excluding mortgages rose from 25.7% at the end of last year to a record 26.6% in June 2026. After its Financial Stability Committee meeting, the central bank said it was preparing steps to address high-cost household debt and support sustainable credit growth. Potential measures include higher capital and reserve requirements, steeper risk weights, changes to the IOF financial transactions tax and a positive-neutral CCyB (additional bank capital required during normal conditions). Citi analysts said the message indicated greater concern about lending standards and deteriorating credit quality, while BTG Pactual outlined possible lender measures. The IMF has also called for stronger consumer safeguards. More than 52.8 million Brazilian credit-card users carry revolving or interest-bearing installment balances, with monthly interest reaching 15.1%.