Nubank turns 13 as one of the most influential financial institutions in the world

São Paulo, May 19, 2026 — In 2012, a Colombian newcomer spent months trying to open a bank account in Brazil. He faced long lines, bureaucracy, and fees that no one could explain. Where most saw a common inconvenience, David Vélez saw an anomaly. His response was to found Nubank in May 2013.

Thirteen years later, the company that started as a conviction in a new digital model has just crossed the milestone of 135 million customers: 115 million in Brazil, 15 million in Mexico, and around 5 million in Colombia. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, it gained 4 million new customers.

“In just 13 years, we have achieved a scale that fewer than a thousand companies in the world have: an annualized revenue of US$ 20 billion,” says Vélez, founder and CEO. “And the most incredible thing is how much growth we still have ahead of us. Even as we expand our market share and profitability quarter after quarter, we only have about 7% of the gross profit of the Brazilian financial market and less than 1% of the Mexican market. We are still in the first minutes of the first half of what Nu can achieve.”

The data is corroborated by global recognition. TIME ranks Nubank among the most influential finance companies in the world. Brand Finance positions the Nu brand as the fourth strongest financial brand on the planet, the first among neobanks. And Forbes places Nubank at the top of the World’s Best Banks ranking in Brazil for the eighth consecutive year, and in Mexico, for the fifth.

The Thesis: One founder, two partners, and a purple card

Vélez did not build Nubank alone, and he was disciplined in recognizing where he needed complement. He invited Cristina Junqueira, who brought mastery of the Brazilian banking system, an obsession with customer experience, and a brand instinct; and Edward Wible, who brought the engineering capable of sustaining what would become one of the largest digital financial platforms in the world. In 2014, the three launched a product that even today encapsulates the company’s thesis: a purple credit card, with no annual fee, managed through an app. Two years later, the first million customers. In ten years, the first 100 million. At 13 years old, a complete portfolio of products in three countries, and the next markets already in sight.

The Next Chapter: Banking license in the US and Mexico

In January 2026, Nu received conditional approval to operate as a national bank in the United States. In Mexico, the company is preparing to start operations as a bank following approval from the local regulator last year, pending final approval, and the Mexican operation already achieved breakeven in the first quarter of 2026, reaching this milestone faster than the Brazilian operation did.

Commitment to Brazil

In the country where more than 60% of the adult population is already a customer, Nubank announced R$ 45 billion in investments in 2026, a volume that has practically doubled in two years. The resources are directed toward four fronts: credit platforms and models using artificial intelligence; new products; expansion of teams and offices; and strengthening the capital base.

Culture, Sports, and Lifestyle

Beyond financial services, Nu has been investing in areas of interest to its customers. Recent examples include partnerships with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and Inter Miami CF, which includes the naming rights to Nu Stadium, the team’s new home.

In Brazil, key highlights include the naming rights agreement for Nubank Parque in São Paulo, one of the main event arenas in Latin America, and the reopening of NuCine Copan, also in the São Paulo capital, in one of the city’s most iconic buildings. These initiatives reinforce Nu’s connection with the daily lives of Brazilians through culture, entertainment, and in-person experiences.

Scale and impact

Nubank’s impact is also reflected in the expansion of access to financial services in Latin America. In just over a decade, around 37 million people entered the formal financial system through Nubank: 31.5 million in Brazil, 4.7 million in Mexico, and nearly 1 million in Colombia.For many, Nu was also the gateway to credit for more than 28 million people, who received their first credit card with the institution: 18.4 million in Brazil, 9.3 million in Mexico, and nearly 1 million in Colombia.