Central Bank of Brazil Approves Nubank Acquisition of Banco Porto Real de Investimentos

Nubank has received official approval from the Central Bank of Brazil to acquire Banco Porto Real de Investimentos S/A. This regulatory clearance allows the digital financial services company to obtain a formal banking license in Brazil. The acquisition, which was originally announced in July 2026, is expected to be finalized in the coming days. This move will add a banking license to Nubank's existing suite of licenses, which includes a Payment Institution license, a Credit, Financing and Investment Company license, and a Securities Broker license.

Regulatory Compliance and Expansion

The acquisition is intended to ensure compliance with Joint Resolution No. 17, which was issued by the Central Bank and the National Monetary Council (CMN). This resolution regulates the use of the term bank by financial entities. According to officials, the incorporation of this new license into the Nu Pagamentos S.A. prudential conglomerate will not require additional capital or liquidity.

The company has maintained a significant presence in the Brazilian market for 13 years. In March 2026, Nubank joined the Brazilian Banking Federation (Febraban). To support its ongoing growth, the company has announced investments of R$ 45 billion in Brazil for the year 2026. This follows a period of significant profitability; Estadão reported that Nubank recorded a net profit of US$ 1.1 billion in the third quarter.

Global Reach and Customer Base

Nubank maintains a massive customer base that spans multiple countries. The company currently serves more than 120 million customers in Brazil. When including operations in Mexico and Colombia, the total number of customers reaches 143 million. This scale of operation follows the recent launch of Nu Global in September 2026, a multi-currency digital account.

Livia Chanes, the CEO of Nubank for Brazil and Latin America, stated that "trust is built through transparency and respect for customers, and the banking license continues the company's growth." David Vélez, the founder and CEO of Nu, noted that the launch of Nu Global represents the first milestone in a decades-long journey to position Nu as the world's leading digital bank.

Glossary

• National Monetary Council (CMN) — The National Monetary Council (CMN) is the country's top economic policy body. It has the power to determine the inflation target.
• Brazilian Banking Federation (Febraban) — The Brazilian Banking Federation (Febraban) is a financial association.