Nubank, a global digital financial services platform, has submitted an application for a national bank charter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in the United States, signaling its intent to expand its operations and explore international opportunities.
This move aligns with the company’s strategy to evolve its regional platform into a global model. A U.
S. national bank charter is expected to unlock new possibilities within the U.
S. financial landscape. David Vélez, founder and CEO of Nu Holdings, stated, “Today, our core focus remains on delivering growth in our existing markets, where we continue to see substantial opportunities for expansion. At the same time, applying for a U.
S. national charter helps us better serve our existing customers based in the country and, in the future, connect with those who share similar financial needs and could benefit from our products and services.”
Obtaining a national bank charter from the OCC would support Nubank’s capacity to innovate responsibly and scale efficiently in the U.
S. market. This would eventually allow the company to offer deposit accounts, credit cards, lending, and digital asset custody, mirroring the compliance-first approach of its operations in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.
In Mexico, Nubank’s subsidiary, Nu Mexico, received authorization to become a bank from the Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores (CNBV) in April 2025 and is currently awaiting final operational approval. Cristina Junqueira, co-founder, Chief Growth Officer of Nu Holdings, and CEO of the emerging United States business, which will be a fully owned subsidiary of Nu Holdings, added, “Nubank’s purpose continues to be to positively impact people’s lives by offering best-in-class digital financial services. While there’s work ahead, we believe that by working closely with regulators, we will soon be in a position to expand our offering to the broader U.
S. market.” Ms. Junqueira has relocated full time to the United States in support of this initiative.
The Board of Directors for the United States business will include Roberto Campos Neto, former President of the Central Bank of Brazil, as Chairman; Cristina Junqueira; Youssef Lahrech, former Nu President and COO and current Nu Audit and Risk Committee observer; Brian Brooks, former Acting Comptroller of the Currency and current Chairman and CEO of Meridian Capital Group; and Kelley Morrell, former Blackstone Senior Managing Director, Chief Strategy Officer of CIT Group, and U.
S. Treasury Department executive, and current Founder and Managing Partner of Highline Capital Management.
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in São Paulo, Nubank has grown to serve nearly 123 million customers across Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. The company reported a record revenue of $3.7 billion in Q2 2025, representing a 40% year-over-year growth, with an activity rate above 83%. Initially launching a no-fee credit card, Nubank has since expanded its offerings to include a savings account (launched in 2017), personal loans, SME solutions, investments, crypto, marketplace, insurance, and mobile plans. The company’s 100% cloud-native platform underpins its data processing for product design, credit and risk models, and customer personalization. Nubank has been publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol NU since 2021.
Nubank worked with advisors Klaros Group and counsel Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in preparing its application.
