Source: CNBC
Rumors that Brazil’s social security fund called Bolsa Familia was to
be cancelled led thousands of people to rush to withdraw money from a
Brazilian bank over the weekend.
Customers lined up at ATMs at dozens of bank branches of Caixa
Economica Federal, a government-owned bank, which pays the social
security subsidy on Saturday and Sunday.
“The bank branches themselves aren’t open on Saturdays. What happened
is that once the rumor gained momentum, people flocked down to their
local branches to try to withdraw money from the ATMs,” Rafael Carregal,
a journalist at Brazil’s main TV network Globo told CNBC.
Brazilian newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo reported that at five
branches in the northeastern city of Sao Luiz and four others in the
state of Maranhao, depositors broke into branches. Most of the branches
that were affected were in the poorer northeast region of the country.
In all, branches in 12 states were affected as the government tried to quell the rumors.
“Police had to intervene in many states, trying to keep the masses in
order. The minister of national development had to make a speech (on
Sunday) reassuring the people that nothing was to be changed in their
benefits program,” Carregal said.
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