Brasília, 2/26/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Banco Popular do Brasil (BPB) goes into operation today in São Paulo. It could be called the People's Bank in English, as it will seek to provide banking services to customers with monthly incomes of up to R$1,000 (a little more than US$300). This is a pilot project that is already operating in Brasilia (Distrito Federal).

After a test period, the goal is to set up 4,500 service centers around the country by the end of the year, says Fernanda Oliveira, a BPB executive manager. (AB)