Nubank, a digital bank with over 140 million clients in Latin America, launched banking operations in the United States on September 10, 2026. The company partnered with Lead Bank to utilize its infrastructure, avoiding the standard regulatory charter process.
The US offering includes a savings account with a 3.50% APY and a Mastercard credit card featuring 1.5% to 2% cashback. Additionally, the company introduced fee-free domestic and international money transfers to Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.
The Nu Global account allows users to manage multi-currency savings across more than 35 countries and trade cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. This platform integrates digital asset management with traditional banking services.
The partnership with Lead Bank is temporary, as Nubank expects to operate under its own national bank charter by 2027. The company received conditional approval for this charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in January 2026.
Nubank targets young consumers and Hispanic Americans, estimating the US underbanked population at 100 million to 150 million people. The firm uses free remittances as a primary tool for customer acquisition within the US market.
