Mexico FinTech News
BanFeliz buys Forjadores bank
BanFeliz, controlled by Monterrey businessman Fernando Garcia Sada, said it been given approval to buy the bank Forjadores to expand into lending for informal workers, aiming to offer not just credit but also savings products. The purchase raised some eyebrows as little is known about BanFeliz, apart from its small payroll loan product Prestamo Feliz. (Related entities appear to have acquired Mexico assets from World Acceptance Corporation (WAC)). According to press interviews, BanFeliz plans to open 285 service centers in the next year, focusing on Mexico City. Loan amounts will be around 6,000 pesos with six-month terms. BanFeliz intends to offer insurance, investments, and remittance services by 2025, pending regulatory approval. They see potential in Forjadores despite its high delinquency rate and plan to mitigate it through technology-driven strategies.
Expansión, 05/29/2024, Luz Elena Marcos Mendez: BanFeliz va por créditos para informales y productos de ahorro
Félix Pago raised $15.5 million in a Series A
Félix Pago, a startup facilitating remittances via WhatsApp, raised $15.5 million in a Series A funding round. Leveraging WhatsApp’s chatbot, users can easily send money to Latin America, where recipients can receive cash or bank deposits. Key investors include Castle Island Ventures and Mercado Libre, with the latter promoting Félix Pago on its payment platform, as does Nu. Expansion plans include El Salvador, Nicaragua, and other Latin American countries
Félix Pago raises $15.5 million to help Latino workers send money home via WhatsApp | TechCrunch
Kueski, FinTechs ride the BNPL wave in Mexico, where cash is still king
Kueski introduced an in-store payment feature using QR codes to enhance their physical store presence. Kueski’s risk management relies on short loan durations and extensive data analysis. Despite increasing digital adoption, cash remains prevalent in Mexico, influencing payment preferences.
FinTech Nexus, 05/28/2024, David Feliba: Kueski, FinTechs ride the BNPL wave in Mexico, where cash is still king
Other news
Latam FinTech Hub, 05/30/2024, Staff: FinTech Jeeves lanza cuenta en USD para facilitar las transacciones transfronterizas de las empresas en México
DCD, 05/29/2024, Staff: Alibaba Cloud está planeando una región de nube en México
LatAm FinTech News
Brazil: Nubank adds support for transfers in BTC, ETH, and SOL
Nubank, Brazil’s largest neobank, has announced the launch of its cryptocurrency transaction feature, enabling users to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The neobank experienced a 1,500% increase in cryptocurrency transaction volume from March 2023 to March 2024. The new support allows for flexible asset transfers, with plans to expand to more cryptocurrencies soon. Nubank collaborates with Chainalysis to maintain high standards and monitor blockchain addresses for suspicious activity. The platform aims to stabilize blockchain fluctuations for smoother transactions.
Be In Crypto, 05/30/2024, Eduardo Venegas: Brasil: Nubank agrega soporte para transferencias en BTC, ETH y SOL
Other news
Latam List, 05/31/2024, Hellen Villena: Koywe acquires Chilean FinTech Facto to target North American market
Global FinTech News
US FinTech Solutions by Text lands $110m in growth financing
SBT, headquartered in Dallas, secured funding from StepStone Group and Edison Partners in a round co-led by the two firms. Stifel Venture Bank also provided an undisclosed lending facility. Founded in 2008, SBT is known as the world’s first “FinText” firm, offering a platform combining messaging and real-time embedded payments services to the consumer finance sector.
FinTech Futures, 05/30/2024, Cameron Emanuel-Burns: US FinTech Solutions by Text lands $110m in growth financing
Other news
FinTech Futures, 05/31/2024, Cameron Emanuel-Burns: Swedish climate FinTech Doconomy bags €34m in Series B funding
CNBC, 05/31/2024, Mackenzie Sigalos: Binance’s ex-CEO begins prison sentence in California
Financial_Report_Q1_30may_2.pdf (ctfassets.net)
FinTech Futures, 05/29/2024, Cameron Emanuel-Burns: HSBC launches e-commerce payment solution Omni Collect in UAE in partnership with Geidea