The arrival of a new millennium was characterized by the realization of the importance of knowledge as an essential economic factor for the development and improvement of income levels. Thus, the Bank intensified the training of productive agents by means of programs which combine credit with technical- managerial orientation and which have been trying to disseminate the philosophy of enterprise and partnerships more and more, as the focus of its development action.  

2000

In 2000, the Bank received the Hélio Beltrão Prize for its innovative experience Rationalization and Modernization of the Bank Normative System. Also, important actions happened that year, amidst which we highlight the Entrepreneurs Partnerships, the Documents Management system implementation, the Trainee Program launch, the participation in the National De-Bureaucratization Program, the creation of Regional Supervision and Control, the launch of Virtual Learning Community training programs, and the launch of Banco do Nordeste Enterprise XXI Prize. As far as credit programs are concerned, with training components, CrediArtesão (for artisans), and Young Entrepreneur were launched.

2001

That year, the Bank widened partnerships and programs to attend to local demands, especially those of micro and small entrepreneurs. By using innovative distance learning tools, it more than doubled training opportunities provided to productive agents, exceeding the mark of two million opportunities at the end of the year. It also expanded credit lines, creating the programs Nordeste Energia, which supports energy efficiency infrastructure, and NordesteMel, for the development of beekeeping.

In order to modernize and facilitate the relationship with clients, the Northeast Electronic System was implemented and home-banking increased, with specific functions of a development bank. The geographical area of operation of the Bank came to include 1,981 municipalities, reaching the Vale do Mucuri, in the state of Minas Gerais.

As part of the federal finance institutions reinforcement program, the Bank obtained capital investments of around R$ 2,556 million, adapting to the new, prudent rules of the finance system and contributing to the fulfillment of its mission as the mains agent of the Federal Government in the Region.

2002

This period marked the 50th Anniversary of Banco do Nordeste, whose commemorative events included the Banco do Nordeste Development Forum with the theme “Northeast – Challenges and Opportunities”. Ministers, governors, business people, technicians, regional development scholars and around 11.5 thousand participants debated, in videoconference, for two days, aspects related to the Bank’s work and development of the Northeast. As a strategic action, it created the Business and Investment Promotion project, by means of which it is possible to identify opportunities and which intermediate between private investors (national and international) and the Northeastern economy.

2003

This year marked the beginning of a renewal process of the company in tune with the perspective of the new government (Lula da Silva Administration) for the social area. Administrative change with re-evaluation of processes by means of designing a new organizational structure and its institutional relations. In a special way, in the valuing of human resources, in recognizing union entities and organizations that represented the staff. The new period that began marks the defense of ethical values and of citizenship in the dimension of public responsibility.
With the national launch of the Zero Hunger program, the Bank adjusted its Special Programs (National Program for Strengthening of Family Agriculture – PRONAF and CrediAmigo) to the new public policy and became the Federal Government’s main agent for the effectiveness of the Program in the Northeast Region. The bank defends and promotes investments from the Constitutional Fund for Financing in the Northeast – FNE, including for the commercial segment. As a result, loans with funds from the FNE were contracted to the sum of R$ 1,019.1 million – more than four times the amount in the previous year. There were also new funds for Family Agriculture through the Safra Plan.

A broad-reaching debate was held for the construction and implantation of the 2003-2007 Strategic Plan, with the objective of guiding the actions which shall be performed by Bank branches and restating its institutional role in accordance with government guidelines.
 
2004

Cresce Nordeste (Grow Northeast)

Launch of the Cresce Nordeste Program, which included the presence of the President of the Republic, Luís Inácio Lula da Silva, at the Bank’s headquarters in Fortaleza.

Cresce Nordeste provides for the investment of R$ 3 billion in support of businesses and entrepreneurs who wish to invest in the Region. The funds, coming from the Constitutional Fund for Financing of the Northeast (FNE), are aimed at implementation, expansion or modernization of productive investments throughout the Northeastern states, the North of Minas Gerais and north of Espírito Santo, also part of the BNB’s operational area.

Credit lines are distributed by economic activity, with emphasis on: family agriculture, beekeeping, livestock farming, shrimp farming, trade, culture, flower farming, grains, industry, inputs and raw materials, sheep and goat farming, fish farming, services and tourism. The aim is to strengthen the domestic market, allowing the Region to grow continuously and in a sustainable way, generating more than 1 million jobs.

Commercial Area

As part of its strategy for reactivation of business in the commercial area, the Bank is re-launching the brand “Conterrâneo” (Countryman), which, according to the new administration is the main brand which characterizes BNB. The products in the commercial credit portfolio represent the Company’s effort to improve customer service, generating revenues and results in a process of recycling of credit within the Region.

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