The objectives of this work were to isolate, characterize and identify the endophytic bacterial community of soybean seeds, and to test the biotechnological potential of this community. Seeds from 12 soybean cultivars were used. The endophytic bacterial isolates were evaluated for in vitro antagonism against phytopathogenic fungi, synthesis of indoleacetic acid (IAA), and capacity to solubilize phosphate. Isolation techniques, amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) grouping, and identification by means of partially sequencing the 16S rDNA were used in community characterization. The isolates with best biotechnological potential were inoculated in seeds to evaluate their ability to promote plant growth. Twelve ribotypes were identify by means of ARDRA and classified as: Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Brevibacterium, Chryseobacterium, Citrobacter, Curtobacterium, Enterobacter, Methylobacterium, Microbacterium, Micromonospora, Pantoea, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, Ochrobactrum, Streptomyces and Tsukamurella. As for the biotechnological potential of the community, 18% of the isolates were able to antagonize phytopathogenic fungi, 100% to synthesize IAA, and 39% to solubilize phosphate. The strain 67A(57) of Enterobacter sp. increased significantly the dry root biomass. Inoculation of promising isolates did not promote growth in soybean plants in most of the cases.