On January 20, 2026, Nubank blocked more than R$ 2 million in the digital account of an aesthetic center in Águas Claras, amounts related to the tax refund paid by the Federal Revenue through Banco do Brasil. However, on March 4 of the same year, the Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories (TJDFT) ordered the immediate unblocking of these funds.
Nubank customers reported that their accounts were blocked without prior notice, which prompted legal actions to recover the withheld funds. The bank justified the blocking by stating that signs of illicit conduct had been identified in the transactions carried out, but current legislation limits the duration of this measure to 72 hours for a preliminary investigation.
In the case of the aesthetic center, Nubank unilaterally closed the account four days after the blocking and did not transfer the amounts to another account of the same holder. The institution alleged that the transactional behavior triggered internal security and compliance mechanisms, which resulted in the closure after detailed investigations.
Another case analyzed by the 1st Civil Court of Ceilândia revealed account and card blocking without any prior notification to the customer. The decision by Judge Leila Arlanch considered the measure arbitrary, as there was no clear specification of the alleged illicit conduct, and condemned the bank to pay R$ 8 thousand for moral damages to the affected customer.
These cases demonstrate the importance of transparency and communication by digital banks during account blocking. Furthermore, the TJDFT has been the body responsible for judging such demands in the Federal District, showing the direct impact of these decisions on the operation of Nubank’s digital accounts.
Finally, recent judicial determinations have guaranteed the unblocking and reimbursement of amounts to customers, reinforcing the need to respect the deadlines and procedures provided by law for financial investigations. The conclusion of the cases awaits further analyses by the competent authorities.
