The Brazilian branch of the Spanish banking group is one of the more conservative banks in the country.
Banco Santander Brasil (BSBR) has a tier one capital ratio of 20%, which gives it plenty of leeway to grow its branch network and enterprise lending, according to analysts at Morningstar.
Despite the problems hanging over European banks, Santander Brasil's affiliation with the Spanish bank's global network means it can attract businesses that want to expand in rapidly expanding South American markets.
With $250 billion in assets, Santander Brasil is the nation's third-largest private bank. It has about 2,000 branches and is primarily a commercial lender, although the bank does have small asset management and insurance operations.
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