Hi all

Thought I would share some info as may help some people here.

Was trying to get a bill in my name, so I have a proof of address so had the idea of trying store cards.

I only have a CPF, a UK Passport and UK driving license (ID photocard).

I went into many shops in a shopping centre in Rio and most tried for me but I wasn't allowed one of their cards. However C&A ( crappy clothes store) was successful, the system accepted it.

They told me to come back in 30mins, where they issued and printed me a Store Card. To my surprise they came out with 2 cards. A C&A storecard and a C&A Mastercard, both with 500 real limits each.

Didn't really need a credit card but thought would be useful to start building a credit profile in Brazil.

I also noticed the mastercard was issued by Bradesco. I have wanted to open a bank account for a long time but every bank I had tried in the past said no but since I now had a Bradesco Mastercard I took a trip to small Bradesco Branch in the same shopping centre.

The Bradesco branch said they couldn't open a current account but could open a deposit account (poupanca account). All needed is a Passport, CPF and a proof of address (utility bill), this I didn't have but they said that's fine, bring a bill from where you live in someone else's name and get that person to sign a declaration saying you live there and have it recognised at their cartorio (cost 5,56 reals). I didn't even have to tell them I had a Bradesco Credit Card. So I gathered what they wanted and went back to the branch today. I am now the proud owner of a new bank account and will have my card in 7 days.

Note a Deposit account here you actually get a debit card on that you can use in shops and ATM's. With Bradesco the account is free (unlike current accounts) and you get paid interest. You can make as many instore purchases as you like but only one free cash withdrawal per month.

Just point to note for the stores I went to several showed me the screen saying my CPF not accepted so I think that the CPF gets linked to whether you have a visa somehow for certain stores. C&A did not have this issue. Both C&A and the Bank also asked do I have another 'Estrangeiro' ID other than my passport so I just showed them my Driving License, don't think they did anything with it but it was enough.

Maybe I was lucky but if not hopefully this can help out some fellow gringos ;)