Banco Bradesco has some issues with banking float — sorry, that’s floating bank, as in, a bank branch floating on the Amazon in Brazil.

Every two weeks, the boat, the Voyager III, pictured at left, sets out toward the Peruvian border, traveling the Amazon and its tributaries. The boat has an ATM machine, as well as bankers equipped with laptops to open accounts. It opened 300 in the first four months of service.

The Voyager II opened for business in late 2009, Bradesco set out to bring banking services to regions so remote that locals walk miles to buy food and visit hospitals. Bank branch penetration, as might be expected, is minimal in these areas. So when the Voyager III, pictured at left, comes into port, many of those coming on board have never seen at ATM machine before.

In addition to bankers and cash — which must be guarded against waterborne bandits — and computers, the boat carries chickens, corn and beans and other supplies which it sells along the 1,000-mile route. Passengers and mail also hitch a ride.

Brazil has as many as 50 million people without bank accounts. Banco Bradesco, which is headquartered in Osasco, a suburb of Sao Paulo, and has assets of about $400 billion,  is working to bring banking services to some of Brazil’s poorest and remotest regions, using mobile banking via SMS, mini-branches, and partnerships with merchants to provide banking services from their stores.

Below is an image of the bank on the river on the riverbank. How does it compare to your local branch?

Photographer: Egberto Nogueira / Imã Galeria