Nubank Applies for U.S. National Bank Charter

Nubank (NYSE:NU), one of the world’s largest digital financial services platforms, announced today that it has applied for a national bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) of the United States. This undertaking is aligned with the company’s intention to explore future international opportunities by evolving its regional platform into a global model. Pursuing a U.S. national bank charter positions Nubank to unlock new possibilities within the U.S. financial landscape.

“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,” said David Vélez, founder and CEO of Nu Holdings.

A national bank charter from the OCC will support Nubank’s ability to innovate responsibly and scale efficiently in the U.S. market, eventually offering deposit accounts, credit card, lending and digital asset custody, reflecting the compliance-first mindset of its operations in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. In Mexico, its subsidiary Nu Mexico received authorization to become a bank from the Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores (CNBV) in April 2025, and awaits its final operational approval.

“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,“ added 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. Cristina has relocated full time to the United States in a commitment to this endeavor.

The Board of Directors of the United States business will be composed by Roberto Campos Neto, former President of the Central Bank of Brazil, who will serve as Chairman of the Board; 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.