Postal Bank and Use of Territory in Brazil: from financial inclusion to digital inclusion

Abstract

The aim of this article is to investigate the role of the Post Office as an instrument for the diffusion of financial information, through the practical, political and social actions that circumscribe the Postal Bank (BP). The social, political and economic transformations along the XX century, together with the increase of their material and information flows, allowed the technical modifications of the Post and the Banks, allowing the frank expansion of the banking and financial services in the Brazilian territory. The research method was based on the theoretical framework of critical geography. The research methodology adopted included the analysis of the relevant legislation on the studied theme and the analysis of financial data of the investigated institutions. As a result, we indicate how the use (and the growing expansion) of information and communication technologies is changing the technical and legal structure of these companies while modifying the territory.