Antônio Pereira do Nascimento, a 65-year-old driver, found himself suddenly thrust from humble to millionaire status overnight due to an astonishing banking error. On June 7, 2023, his account at Bradesco swelled with almost R$ 132 million following what was identified as a significant operational mistake by the bank. Naturally, his life turned upside down following this windfall, leading him to file for rewards and compensation against the very bank from which he had been banking for over 25 years.
The staggering sum, totaling R$ 131,870,227, was deposited by mistake due to what the bank called operational error, as reported by local news outlet TV Anhanguera. When Antônio discovered this unexpected fortune, with only R$ 227 previously in his account, he quickly reported the error to the bank and returned the entire sum. This honest choice, locals would agree, is not something everyone could fathom—but it’s precisely what Antônio did.
Yet, the fallout from this brief tenure as one of Brazil's wealthiest citizens proved to be anything but simple. Once the error was rectified, and the funds returned to Bradesco, Antônio stated he faced additional troubles arising from the bank's handling of the situation. Among his contentious claims, he noted the bank had inexplicably elevated his account’s status with additional charges, raising his monthly fees from R$ 36 to R$ 70 without informing him. “We, who are honest in Brazil, pay to be honest. I spent fuel, traveled with my car, left my house, lost my day’s work. I found out they had deducted R$ 70 from my account because they put me on 'VIP'. I told them: 'What VIP? I don’t want VIP'. The money wasn't mine; I didn’t come back to you?” he said, articulately expressing his frustration.
Antônio, anticipating some form of recompense for his honesty and the troubling aftermath, filed a civil suit against the bank. Through his legal team, he is requesting 10% of the mistakenly transferred amount—around R$ 13 million—as well as R$ 150,000 for damages stemming from emotional distress and psychological burden, as detailed during hearings at the 6th Civil Court of Palmas.
The legal basis for Antônio’s request cites Article 1,234 of Brazil’s Civil Code, which states individuals returning erroneously deposited amounts are entitled to remuneration of not less than 5% of the total. His grievance against the bank cites the immense emotional toll exacerbated by media attention, with headlines proclaiming him as “the driver who became a millionaire for one day”. The coverage led to unwarranted pressures from both the bank’s management and the public, including threats insinuated by the bank manager of individuals awaiting his home return of the funds.
“The bank manager initiated psychological pressure on me, hinting there were 'people' on my doorstep to force me to return the money, treating me as if I were some sort of criminal,” read the official complaint filed by his attorneys. Such actions, they assert, inflicted what they termed 'irreversible psychological damage' as well as undue hardship and exposure for his family.
This consultation for conciliation between the two parties is set for this Tuesday, February 18, 2025. The banking institution has been relatively tight-lipped on the issue, previously stating they do not comment on active legal matters, but industry observers speculate how they will respond to the unusual circumstances of the case.
For Antônio, who returned the immense fortune just hours after it appeared, the aftermath has wrought more disturbance than expected. “Everyone thinks you can just return the money and move on, but there are scars left. No compensation for mental strain can ever be sufficient when your integrity and character are questioned so publically,” he confided.
His story serves as both caution and curiosity within the public eye, sparking debates on banking protocols and personal responsibility. Whether the court will rule in favor of Antônio’s plea or side with the banking giant remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: honesty might not always pay, but it certainly surfaces as the key defining trait of his character.