Itaú is the country’s largest private bank by customer count and by app downloads. The Itaú app does almost everything: account, card, investments, Itaú Shop, the Itaú Tag for tolls, insurance, BIA the AI assistant, the virtual card, and renegotiation. The breadth keeps long-time Itaú customers loyal. The cost shows up in monthly account fees on the wrong package, an app that boots slowly on older Android phones, iToken friction on first-time transfers, and the steady push of card-and-loan upsells. If the package fee no longer earns its keep or the everyday app feels heavier than it should, the Brazilian banking market now has Itaú alternatives that range from traditional rivals to digital-first replacements.
This guide compares 7 Itaú alternatives, with each pick targeting a specific reason customers move: lower fees, simpler app, stronger card rewards, or a better international account.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Monthly fee | Card annual fee | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradesco | Branch and ATM access | Package-tier | Tier-dependent | Cidade de Deus operations scale |
| BB | State-owned trust | Package-tier | Tier-dependent | BB Piggy Bank goal planning |
| Santander Brasil | International tier | Package-tier | Tier-dependent | Select Workcafé and global reach |
| iti Itaú | Itaú-backed digital | None | None | Itaú compliance in a lighter app |
| Nu | Cleanest neobank | None | None | Quiet home feed, fast onboarding |
| Banco Inter | Super-app coverage | None | None | Home broker plus cashback |
| C6 Bank | Rewards stacking | None | None | Átomos points and C6 Global |
Why people leave Itaú
Itaú still wins on infrastructure and customer-service depth, but several common frictions push users to look around.
- Package-tier fees. Many Itaú accounts sit on monthly fee packages that have crept above what users actually need. Reddit Brasil threads regularly compare Itaú packages to free digital-bank accounts.
- App weight. Itaú Shop, Itaú Tag, BIA, and the cashback module each occupy home-screen real estate. Boot time on older phones runs longer than Nu or C6.
- iToken friction on first-time flows. First Pix or first TED to a new contact triggers the iToken flow, which adds steps that competitors handle with passive device-trust signals.
- Persistent upsells. Cards, loans, insurance, consortia, and Itaú Tag offers occupy a large share of the home feed.
- Itaú Shop discount fatigue. Promotional cashback rates settled into low single digits on most partners.
Which Itaú alternative should you choose?
- Bradesco if branch access still matters.
- BB if you want state-owned bank backing.
- Santander Brasil if international features are the draw.
- iti Itaú if Itaú’s compliance is fine but the heavy app is not.
- Nu if a quiet, focused digital account is the goal.
- Banco Inter if you want a super-app with a real brokerage.
- C6 Bank if rewards on every spend matter.
1. Bradesco — best Itaú alternative for branch and ATM access
Bradesco is the closest like-for-like swap inside the traditional Brazilian banking shelf. The branch and ATM network rivals Itaú’s, the app handles Pix, cards, investments, insurance, and consortia, and Bradesco’s Livelo points programme stacks against Itaú’s cashback. The DDA bill finder consolidates invoices in one place, similar to Itaú’s flow.
Where it falls short: Monthly fees on the wrong package can match or exceed Itaú’s. App weight is comparable.
Pricing: Package-tier fees. Cards with annual fees that scale with the tier. Pix free.
Bradesco vs Itaú: Bradesco wins on Livelo and a slightly different package structure. Itaú wins on app polish and Itaú Tag.
Bottom line: Pick Bradesco when the branch and ATM network keeps you on a traditional bank.
2. BB (Banco do Brasil) — best for state-owned bank backing
BB is state-owned and runs one of the largest branch networks in Brazil. The app covers Pix, cards, investments, FGTS withdrawals, consortia, and the BB Piggy Bank goal-tracking feature. The state-owned status carries an implicit safety perception that traditional Itaú customers value.
Where it falls short: App speed lags Itaú on older phones. Package fees can match.
Pricing: Package-tier fees. Card tiers with annual fees. Pix free and unlimited.
BB vs Itaú: BB wins on state-owned backing and rural branch access. Itaú wins on app polish and product breadth.
Bottom line: Pick BB when state-owned backing is the actual draw and Pix-and-card cover most of your use.
3. Santander Brasil — best for international features
Santander Brasil sits inside the broader Santander group. The Select tier ships bilingual service, access to Workcafé locations worldwide, commercial-dollar foreign exchange, fee-free international withdrawals, and an Offshore in Miami option. The standard tier covers Pix, cards, and investments.
Where it falls short: Select tier requires qualifying income. Standard tier fees comparable to Itaú.
Pricing: Package-tier fees. Card tiers with annual fees. Pix free.
Santander vs Itaú: Santander wins on international reach through the Select tier. Itaú wins on local product breadth.
Bottom line: Pick Santander when you travel or earn in foreign currency.
4. iti Itaú — best for keeping Itaú’s compliance without the heavy app
iti is Itaú’s own digital-first sibling account. The app feels closer to Nu or C6 than to the full Itaú app, with quick onboarding, free Pix, a no-annual-fee credit card, and a stripped-down home screen. The account sits inside Itaú’s compliance and customer-service systems, which means fewer surprise lockouts than independent neobanks.
Where it falls short: Investment options route into Itaú’s broader platform with extra steps. Some features lag the full Itaú app.
Pricing: Free account. Card with no annual fee. Pix free and unlimited.
iti Itaú vs Itaú: iti wins on a lighter daily app. Itaú wins on full-product depth and Itaú Tag.
Bottom line: Pick iti if you trust Itaú’s underlying systems but want a lighter daily experience.
5. Nu — best for a quiet, focused account
Nu does the opposite of what Itaú’s app does. The home screen leads with the balance and the card. There is no monthly package fee, no Itaú Tag, no consortium upsell, and no Itaú Shop. The Caixinha pays 100% of the CDI, the credit card has no annual fee, and account opening completes in minutes.
Where it falls short: No branch access. Investment menu narrower than Itaú’s. Customer escalation paths are chat-first.
Pricing: Free account. Card with no annual fee. Pix free and unlimited.
Nu vs Itaú: Nu wins on UI restraint and zero fees. Itaú wins on branch network and full-product depth.
Bottom line: Pick Nu when you want the quietest possible bank app.
6. Banco Inter — best for a super-app with real investments
Banco Inter delivers what Itaú’s app aims at: account, broker, mortgage, marketplace, cashback, and rewards in one place. The free account ships with a credit card with no annual fee, home broker tools, CDB, LCI, LCA, Treasury Direct, pension plans, and the Inter Loop points programme. The international USD account adds dollar exposure without a package fee.
Where it falls short: App weight comparable to Itaú’s. The investment surface adds a learning curve.
Pricing: Free account. No annual fee on the standard card. Inter Loop free.
Banco Inter vs Itaú: Inter wins on zero-fee structure and integrated broker. Itaú wins on branch access and Itaú Personnalité service.
Bottom line: Pick Inter when the super-app strategy is what kept you on Itaú in the first place.
7. C6 Bank — best for rewards on every spend
C6 Bank’s Átomos points stack on debit, credit, and Pix-on-credit. The free Carbon card earns across categories, and the C6 Global account ships USD, EUR, and GBP balances at no monthly cost. The investment platform is solid, and the home screen stays cleaner than Itaú’s.
Where it falls short: No branch network. Service depth on complex issues trails Itaú.
Pricing: Free account. Carbon card free. C6 Global free in the standard tier.
C6 Bank vs Itaú: C6 wins on rewards and multicurrency. Itaú wins on Personnalité service and branch access.
Bottom line: Pick C6 if the card runs most of your monthly spend and you want compounding rewards.
How to choose
For a one-to-one traditional-bank swap, install Bradesco, BB, or Santander Brasil. Each has a different angle: Bradesco on Livelo, BB on state-owned backing, Santander on international tier features.
For a lighter daily account that still benefits from Itaú’s compliance, iti Itaú is the obvious choice. It is Itaú’s own product, simpler app and same underlying systems.
For zero fees with a focused digital experience, Nu wins on restraint, Banco Inter on breadth, and C6 Bank on rewards. The right pick depends on whether you want a clean account, a super-app, or a points programme.
Stay on Itaú when you use Personnalité service, rely on the Itaú Tag for tolls, or maintain a complex investment portfolio inside Itaú’s platform. The package fee earns its keep at scale.
FAQ
What is the best Itaú alternative for lower fees? Among traditional banks, Bradesco and BB run similar fee structures. For zero monthly fees, Nu, Banco Inter, and C6 Bank are the standard digital answers.
Is Itaú or Bradesco better? Itaú leads on app polish and the Personnalité service tier. Bradesco competes on branch network depth and the Livelo points programme. The right answer depends on which products you use.
Can I open a digital account without closing my Itaú account? Yes. Many Brazilians keep an Itaú account for branch access and add a digital account for everyday Pix and card use.
Which Itaú alternative has the best credit card? C6 Bank’s Carbon and Banco Inter’s mastercard both offer competitive rewards. For premium cards with concierge, Santander Select tier competes with Itaú Personnalité.
Is iti the same bank as Itaú? iti is Itaú’s digital subsidiary and uses Itaú’s underlying compliance and customer-service infrastructure. It runs as a separate brand with its own app and account number.
