Stone (Conta Stone)
Bottom line
Stone (Conta Stone) is a free business account from Brazil leading card acquirer. Best for merchants using Stone POS terminals - tight settlement integration and receivables advance. Bacen payment institution, not FGC-covered.
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Type | Payment institution / acquirer, regulated by Bacen |
| Best for | Businesses that accept card payments and want banking integrated with their POS |
| Serves | Brazil-registered companies (CNPJ holders) |
| Deposit protection | NOT FGC-covered. Funds are segregated per Bacen payment-institution rules – see below |
| Pricing from | Free (Conta Stone is free; Stone acquirer fees apply separately) |
Stone is one of Brazil’s leading payment acquirers – the company behind the card machines (maquininhas) used by hundreds of thousands of Brazilian merchants. Its banking product, Conta Stone, extends that acquirer relationship into a full business account, letting merchants receive card settlement, manage cash flow, and pay suppliers all in one place.
Stone went public on NASDAQ in 2018 and has since expanded aggressively into SMB banking. For businesses that already use Stone’s payment terminals, adding Conta Stone is a natural step. For those that do not, the account still competes on its own merits – though the tightest value proposition is for merchant-facing businesses.
Is Stone Conta Stone available for Brazilian businesses?
Conta Stone is open to MEIs, MEs, Ltdas, and other CNPJ-holding businesses registered in Brazil. Stone has traditionally focused on merchants and businesses that accept card payments, but Conta Stone is available to a broader range of business types. Account opening is digital via the Stone app or website, requiring CNPJ, Contrato Social or CCMEI, and partner documents.
Regulatory status and deposit protection – read this first
Stone operates in Brazil as a payment institution and card acquirer, regulated by the Banco Central do Brasil (Bacen) – it is not a licensed bank. This is the most important fact about Conta Stone for any business evaluating where to hold funds.
As a Bacen-regulated payment institution, Stone is required to segregate client funds from its own capital. Balances in Conta Stone are held in a ring-fenced account at Bacen or a custodian and cannot be mixed with Stone’s operating funds. This is a meaningful legal protection in the event of Stone’s insolvency.
However, Stone is NOT a participant in the FGC (Fundo Garantidor de Creditos). The statutory BRL 250,000 deposit guarantee that applies to licensed banks does not cover Conta Stone balances. Your protection is Bacen-mandated fund segregation – not FGC insurance. For businesses that need FGC coverage, use a licensed bank (Nubank PJ, Inter Empresas, C6 Bank, BTG Empresas, or PagBank PJ) as your primary account. Verify current regulatory status at bcb.gov.br.
Pricing and plans
| Plan / Service | Monthly cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Conta Stone (business account) | Free | No monthly maintenance fee |
| Stone business card | Free | Debit; prepaid/credit subject to approval |
| Pix transfers | Free | Unlimited |
| TED outbound | Indicative: from R$ 2-5 per transfer | Confirm with Stone |
| Stone acquirer / POS (separate) | MDR-based (per transaction) | Card acceptance rates vary by plan and volume |
| Working capital / Giro Facil | Interest-based | Advance on card receivables; confirm terms with Stone |
Fee schedules change; confirm current pricing at stone.com.br before opening.
Key features for small businesses
- Free Conta Stone business current account
- Tight integration with Stone POS / maquininha for card settlement
- Receivables advance (antecipacao de recebiveis) on card sales
- Pix and TED for business transfers
- Business card for purchases
- Cash-flow dashboard with card settlement visibility
- Boleto cobranca for billing
- Working capital credit lines backed by card receivables
Pros
- Best integrated experience for existing Stone POS merchants
- Strong receivables advance (antecipacao) product for cash-flow management
- Free account with no monthly fee
- Bacen-regulated with mandatory fund segregation
- Well-established company with NASDAQ listing and institutional backing
- Fast settlement of card revenue directly into Conta Stone
Cons
- NOT FGC-covered – payment institution, not a licensed bank
- Value proposition is strongest for Stone POS users; less differentiated for non-merchants
- Card acceptance fees (MDR) for the POS can be higher than competing acquirers at high volumes
- Fewer investment products than licensed-bank competitors
- Some businesses report customer service can be slow for complex issues
Who should use Stone?
Conta Stone makes the most sense for brick-and-mortar retailers, restaurants, and service businesses that already use or want to use Stone card terminals. The tight integration between POS settlement and the business account – and especially the ability to advance receivables – is a genuine operational advantage. Businesses that do not accept card payments, or that prioritise FGC deposit protection, will find licensed-bank alternatives more suitable as a primary account.
Verdict
Stone earns a 4.0 out of 5. Its Conta Stone is a solid free business account, but its strongest selling point is the merchant ecosystem: if you use Stone to accept cards, having the account too is a natural fit that unlocks receivables advance and cash-flow integration. For non-merchant businesses, or those prioritising statutory deposit insurance, a licensed bank is the better primary choice. Stone works well as a specialist merchant-banking layer.
Fees, features, and regulatory status can change. Always confirm current terms on Stone’s official website (stone.com.br) and Bacen’s institution register before opening an account.