Dona Branca
Portuguese fraudster
About Dona Branca
Lived 1902 – 1992 (aged 89). Dona Branca was a Portuguese.
Maria Branca dos Santos, more commonly referred to as "Dona" Branca (1902–1992), was a Portuguese criminal known chiefly for maintaining a Ponzi scheme in Portugal between 1970 and 1984 that paid a ten percent monthly interest. During this time she became popularly known as "The people's banker".
Dona Branca was arrested in 1984, and in 1988 she was sentenced to 10 years in prison. She was one of the last inmates of Convento das Mónicas when it was dismantled in 1989.
In 1993 RTP created a telenovela titled A Banqueira do Povo ("The People's Banker") based on these events with Eunice Muñoz playing the role of the title character, in this case Dona Benta.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Dona Branca's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Dona Branca's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Dona Branca?
Portuguese fraudster (1902–1992)
When was Dona Branca born?
Dona Branca was born on 20 September 1902 in Lisbon.
When did Dona Branca die?
Dona Branca died on 3 April 1992 in Lisbon.
What nationality was Dona Branca?
Dona Branca was Portuguese.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Dona Branca. https://biography.guide/dona-branca/
MLA: "Dona Branca." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/dona-branca/.
Chicago: "Dona Branca." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/dona-branca/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:00 UTC