Logo Ualá Horizontal

Robots Ualá Regional

Sitemap Ualá Regional

Navbar Ualá Regional 

Ualá acquires ABC Capital bank in Mexico

# Ualá acquires ABC Capital bank in Mexico

Mexico City, May 25, 2023..-

### The National Banking and Securities Commission of Mexico (CNBV), with the endorsement of the Bank of Mexico (Banxico), approved the acquisition of ABC Capital bank by Ualá.

Given this approval, the Mexican bank -with over 12 years of experience in the financial sector- will become part of Ualá's ecosystem. This will allow Ualá to continue promoting financial inclusion throughout the country with the expertise of local partners. It is worth noting that last year the fintech company obtained approval for the purchase of 100% of the shares of Wilobank in Argentina.

Over the past months, Ualá and ABC Capital have worked together under a co-branding agreement (Ualá ABC) in Mexico, with the goal of digitizing financial services. Under this arrangement, the bank has launched numerous highly demanded products in the local market, such as credit cards, remittances, and personal loans, among others.

"The acquisition of ABC Capital will enable Ualá to accelerate the launch of products in Mexico, our largest growth market. Our commitment to the country is absolute, which is why we need a bank to create the most comprehensive financial ecosystem in the country, consistent with our offerings in Colombia and Argentina. This is a significant step for Ualá's regional development, as it confirms that with regulated entities, we can offer a unique and distinctive proposition that combines the best of technology with the full range of products needed for the digitalization of Latin American economies" said Pierpaolo Barbieri, founder and CEO of Ualá.

In the coming days, the change of control will be formalized, initiating an integration phase between both companies, which will allow Ualá to strengthen its value proposition in Mexico with further innovation and security, plus the market knowledge and trust that ABC Capital brings.

Mexico is the major focus of the Argentine company, which has made numerous announcements throughout the year with a focus on expansion and regional growth. In June 2022, the purchase of 100% of the shares of Wilobank, Argentina's first digital bank, was approved. Additionally, in January 2022, Ualá began operations in Colombia, backed by a Financing Company license.

With operations in Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia, Ualá is one of the fastest-growing companies in Latin America. The Company recently announced an investment of $150 million in the region for the next 18 months, continuing its path to reach over 25 million users in the next five years.

Ualá, the Argentine fintech unicorn, arrives today in Colombia

# Ualá, the Argentine fintech unicorn, arrives today in Colombia

### Launching in Colombia today and available to anyone over the age of 18, Ualá offers secure financial transaction services that are digital, open, inclusive and free, to transform how Colombians manage their money. With a local hub, Ualá will also invest in technological and financial education for all population sectors.

__Bogotá, January 27, 2022.-__ Ualá, the Argentine financial technology unicorn, is taking one step further in its expansion in Latin America today, officially launching operations in Colombia, a market where 87% of people use cash to purchase goods and services. The firm announced an up-front investment of US$80M.

Launched in October 2017 and founded by Pierpaolo Barbieri, the company raised US$350 million in a Series D investment round led by SoftBank Latin America Fund and affiliates of Tencent in August 2021. It is one of the fastest growing companies in Latin America, and one of the 10 most valuable Challenger Banks in the world, valued at $2.45 billion on a post-money basis, giving it its status as a unicorn.

Ualá aims to boost financial inclusion and change the way Colombians manage their money. One of its main tasks will be bringing technological and financial education to all sectors of the population, offering a 100% digital experience that is free, secure and easy to use from anywhere via a mobile device.

“Ualá is extremely proud to be arriving today in Colombia, a market we have dreamed of since we started out. We want to bring financial services into the 21st century, and we are here to invest in local talent to revolutionize the market, with a more open, more digital, and radically more inclusive financial ecosystem,” said Pierpaolo Barbieri, founder and CEO of Ualá.

The Argentine unicorn has obtained a license to operate as a Financing Company, supervised by the Financial Superintendence of Colombia and the support of Fogafin, guaranteeing a level of security that - together with the cutting edge technology that Ualá brings to the country - will help gain the trust of Colombians.

Ualá offers a free mobile application that allows users to open an account linked to an international Mastercard debit card, without maintenance or closing costs. It will be available on iOS and Android throughout Colombia for anyone over the age of 18. Cash in can be made free of charge through transfers or cash deposits at more than 7,000 Baloto points nationwide, and used to make purchases at any website or business in the world that accepts Mastercard, thanks to its contactless technology, chip and offline PIN.

In addition, various other transactions can be carried out safely and easily, such as transferring and receiving money inside and outside Ualá and making two cash withdrawals from any ATM at no cost, checking all financial movements on the app and accessing customer services via live chat, email and social media.

As well as the mobile app, Ualá is also launching Aula Ualá (uala.com.co/aula), a financial education platform designed entirely for launch in Colombia. Its objective is to support Colombians as they learn about personal finances and new opportunities through technology. Aula Ualá is an online space with free access to different tools, such as online courses, video tutorials, blog posts and downloadable material, among other content.

*“We’re honored to have the support of the Financial Superintendence for our launch in Colombia. Without a doubt, the country has made great efforts over the last decade to increase access to financial services. We have seen in the Colombian market possibilities to innovate and offer different options for how personal finances are managed. At a time when everything is changing, we want to be part of that change and continue promoting it, by building a close bond with our users in Colombia, like we have managed to do in Argentina and Mexico. This is how this financial revolution is growing in the region,”* added Barbieri.

With more than 4 million cards issued in Argentina and Mexico, Ualá arrives in Colombia with a team of 1,300 employees committed to inclusion across the region. The company has a local office in Colombia with 40 staff, and more vacancies will be opened up as the company seeks to recognize and promote local talent, inviting Colombians to be part of a growing team that aims to improve the financial lives of more and more Latin Americans.

Last year, Ualá signed agreements to purchase two banking entities, Wilobank in Argentina and ABC Capital in Mexico. Both transactions are subject to approval by local authorities.


Ualá raises $350M in new investment round, led by SoftBank and Tencent

# Ualá raises $350M in new investment round, led by SoftBank and Tencent

### Ualá, the Argentine fintech, announced a new $350 million investment round, valuing the company at $2.45 billion on a post-money basis.

__Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 13th, 2021.-__ Ualá, the Argentine fintech, announced a new $350 million investment round, valuing the company at $2.45 billion on a post-money basis. The Series D was led by SoftBank Latin America Fund, the technology fund focused on the Latin American market, and affiliates of Tencent, a leading China-based technology company, with participation from other top tier global investors. Based on publicly available data, this round represents the largest private fundraising round ever by an Argentinian company, emphasizing Ualá's exponential growth and leadership in Latin America.

Participants in the round included existing investors, such as funds managed by Soros Fund Management LLC, funds managed by affiliates of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., Ribbit Capital, Greyhound Capital, Monashees, and Endeavor Catalyst. Ualá also welcomed new funds, such as D1 Capital Partners and 166 2nd, alongside angel investors such as Jacqueline Reses and Isaac Lee. Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP served as legal counsel to Ualá in its Series D financing round, and in all previous fundraisings.

With more than 3.5 million cards issued in the region and less than a year after successfully launching operations in the Mexican market, Ualá developed a complete financial ecosystem including universal accounts, a global Mastercard card, bill payment options, investment products, personal loans, installments (BNPL), and insurance. It has also launched merchant acquiring, Ualá Bis, a solution for entrepreneurs and merchants that allows selling through a payment link or mobile point-of-sales (mPOS).

This funding will allow Ualá to further accelerate its Latin American growth plans, and attract world class talent. The company currently plans to end 2021 with 1,500 employees and to develop new business verticals, both in Argentina and Mexico.
*
"We are most impressed by Ualá's ambition and execution. Our investment will propel the next stage of their vision, furthering a regional ecosystem that can make financial services more accessible and transparent across LatAm,”* said Marcelo Claure, CEO of SoftBank Group International and COO of SoftBank Group.

*"Less than 4 years since launch, today marks a historic milestone for both Ualá and Argentina. We are honored to attract some of the world’s best investors to focus on financial inclusion and innovation in Latin America, a mission that drives our every move. These funds will propel our ambitions to provide simpler, fairer, and more transparent financial services for all in both Argentina and Mexico,"* said Pierpaolo Barbieri, founder and CEO of Ualá.

#### Ualá’s growth in numbers:
- More than 1,000 full time employees, currently planning to reach 1,500 by the end of 2021.
- More than 3.5 million cards issued in less than 4 years.
- >22% of the population aged 18-25 in Argentina have a Ualá card. 
- Over one million users invest in the mutual fund available on the Ualá app, the second largest mutual fund in Argentina in number of participants.
- More than 230,000 loans granted.
- Just 8 months after its launch, monthly transaction volume on Ualá Bis grew 27-fold since its first full month of operation. 

#### About the company´s user profile:
- 44% identify as women and 56% identify as men.
- 55% of its users are between 18 and 30 years old.
- 65% had no credit history prior to downloading the app.

#### Previous Capital Raisings:
- $150M in Series C, led by SoftBank Latin America Fund and Tencent, with participation from Endeavor Catalyst and other original existing investors: such as funds managed by affiliates of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., funds managed by Soros Fund Management LLC, Monashees, Ribbit Capital, and Jefferies LLC (November, 2019).
- Tencent invested an undisclosed amount in April 2019.
- $34M in Series B, led by funds managed by affiliates of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. with participation from Ribbit Capital and Monashees (September, 2018).
- $10M in Series A, led by funds managed by Soros Fund Management LLC, with participation from Jefferies LLC, Point72 Ventures, Greyhound Capital and Kevin Ryan, among others (January, 2018).

*The description of the transactions and other information contained herein (collectively, this “communication”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws, and also contains certain financial forecasts and projections. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this communication, including, but not limited to, statements as to future results of operations and financial position, planned products and services, business strategy and plans, objectives of management for future operations, market size and growth opportunities, competitive position, technological and market trends and the potential benefits and expectations related to the terms and timing of the Series D fundraising round, are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and forecasts and reflect the views, assumptions, expectations, and opinions of Ualá, which are all subject to change due to various factors. Any such estimates, assumptions, expectations, forecasts, views or opinions, whether or not identified in this communication, should be regarded as indicative, preliminary and for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this communication are subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties. If any of these risks materialize or Ualá’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Ualá anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its assessments to change.*

Ualá, the successful Argentinean financial technology company, arrives today in Mexico

# Ualá, the successful Argentinean financial technology company, arrives today in Mexico

### Ualá, the leading Argentinean fintech company, begins its expansion in Latin-America today, launching its operations in Mexico, a market where only 47% of people have a bank account.

__Mexico City, September 29, 2020.-__ With a solid proposal to contribute to financial inclusion and change the way Mexicans manage their money, one of the company's main goals will be to provide technological and financial education to all sectors of the population, offering a 100% digital, safe, free and easy-to-use experience.

Founded in October 2017 by Argentine entrepreneur Pierpaolo Barbieri, the company raised $150M USD in a Series C investment round led by Tencent and Softbank at the end of last year. In addition, its investors include Soros Fund Management LLC, Jefferies LLC, Point72 Ventures, Kevin Ryan, Monashees, Ribbit Capital, Endeavor Catalyst and funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management. It is one of the fastest growing companies in Latin America, positioning itself as one of the 10 most valuable Challenger Banks  and one of the 50 possible future unicorns.

*“Three years ago we launched in Argentina, with the goal of making personal finances more innovative, more accessible, and more inclusive in Latin America. After 18 months of hard work, we are very happy to offer all Mexicans a modern, safe and truly free account to manage all their personal finances - with one card and one app. We are honored to play a part in the digital transformation of money, becoming an enabler for the digital economy in the region”*, said Pierpaolo Barbieri, Founder and CEO of Ualá.

Ualá provides a free mobile app, linked to an account and an international Mastercard debit card, with no issue, renewal, maintenance or closing costs. Available throughout Mexico, for anyone over 18, from iOS and Android. It can be loaded without cost through SPEI transfers or cash deposits in more than 14 thousand stores nationwide, and used to make purchases at any website or store in the world that accepts Mastercard, thanks to its contactless, chip and Offline PIN technology.  

In addition, people will be able to perform various transactions safely and easily such as transferring and receiving money, making cash withdrawals from ATMs, paying bills, and top up your cell phone. Likewise, Ualá's proposal reaches the market including commercial alliances with companies such as Booking.com, Open English, Jüsto and Coderhouse.

Quote TBD - Marcelo Claure, CEO of Softbank Group - 

With more than two million cards issued in Argentina, representing 6% of its population, Ualá arrives in Mexico with more than 500 Latin American collaborators committed to inclusion throughout the region. The company already has a consolidated local team and 25 new vacancies will be opened in the country during the rest of the year, with the intention of recognizing and projecting Mexican talent, inviting it to join a growing family that will seek to improve the financial life of more and more people.


Ualá Raises Us$150M in Series C Round Led by Tencent and SoftBank

# Ualá Raises Us$150M in Series C Round Led by Tencent and SoftBank

### The Argentina-based fintech, announced today that it has completed a Series C financing round totaling us$150 million.

__Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 25, 2019.-__ The round was led by Tencent, a leading provider of Internet value added services in China and owner of WeChat, the largest communication and social platform in China, and SoftBank Innovation Fund, the largest-ever technology fund focused exclusively in Latin America. Representatives of both Tencent and SoftBank will join Ualá’s Board of Directors.

Endeavor Catalyst, a co-investment vehicle designed to support Endeavor entrepreneurs, and existing Ualá investors – affiliates of Goldman Sachs Investment Partners (GSIP), Soros Fund Management LLC, Monashees, Ribbit Capital, and Jefferies LLC – also participated in the round. Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP served as legal counsel to Ualá in its Series C financing round, and in all previous fundraisings.

The financing will support the continued growth of Ualá, which issued more than 1.3M cards since inception two years ago and has most recently been focused on expanding its product offering. In early 2019, it launched a lending platform to originate personal loans and has just premiered mutual fund investments. The company will use the capital to further scale its business and aims to triple in size in the next year, hiring over 400 people between technology and operations. 
Ualá has captured attention from international investors since before its launch to the public in October 2017. After a us$10M Series A round led by an affiliate of Soros Fund Management LLC, along with an affiliate of Jefferies LLC, Point72 Ventures, entrepreneur Kevin Ryan, and others, Ualá raised us$34M in 2018 in a Series B round led by an affiliate of Goldman Sachs Investment Partners (GSIP), with Ribbit Capital and Monashees. Tencent invested an undisclosed amount in April 2019.

According to the World Bank, only 41% of Argentines have a debit card and only 7% have requested a loan or saved at a traditional financial institution. Ualá aims to improve financial inclusion by helping users better manage their finances hassle-free. The personal finance management app is linked to a prepaid, global Mastercard and allows users to transfer money, invest in mutual funds, request loans, pay bills and top-up prepaid services.

James Mitchell, Tencent’s Chief Strategy Officer, said “We are glad to witness Ualá’ s rapid growth since we first invested in the company earlier this year. Through this stepped-up investment, we will strengthen our support for Ualá in its development into a full-fledged financial services platform, promoting the financial inclusion and technology innovation.”
*“Uala’s growth has been truly remarkable. What the team is building has revolutionized financial services in Argentina. We believe the strategy and exceptional execution demonstrate great potential.”* said Shu Nyatta, Managing Partner, SoftBank Innovation Fund.

“Ualá’s mobile-first finance technology brings access, transparency and convenience to the consumer,” said Christopher Dawe, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs. “This investment is consistent with our philosophy of backing mission-driven teams who are promoting financial inclusion.”

*“Ever since our time together in the classroom at Harvard, Pierpaolo and I have been obsessed with the idea that financial exclusion is a key driver of poverty. Eleven years ago, when I wrote about this in The Ascent of Money, there wasn’t a good solution. Now, thanks to advances in technology and the spread of the smartphone, there is. I am hugely excited by the rapid growth of Ualá and its success in attracting the world’s leading tech investors.”* Niall Ferguson, Founding Board Member of Ualá.

*“Financial services are based on three basic pillars: payment, credit, and investments. Our objective is to disrupt access to those services, giving even more people the opportunity to build a credit history, inclusively and transparently. This round endorses our strategy and will allow us to boost our growth,"* said Pierpaolo Barbieri, founder and CEO of Ualá.

#### Ualá in numbers
- +1.3M cards issued in two years
- +180 employees 
- +4% of Argentina has Ualá, >13% of 18-25 year old residents.
- ~7% of cards issued to foreigners living in Argentina.

Ualá raises Us$150M in Series C Round Led by Tencent and SoftBank

Argentine Fintech Ualá Raises $34 Million in Series B Funding

# Argentine Fintech Ualá Raises $34 Million in Series B Funding

### Ualá, the Argentina-based fintech company, announced today that it has completed a Series B financing round of $34 million USD led by Goldman Sachs Investment Partners (GSIP), with Ribbit Capital and Monashees also participating.

__Buenos Aires, October 2018.-__ Existing investors that also participated include a private investment fund managed by Soros Fund Management LLC, Point72 Ventures, Jefferies LLC, and entrepreneur Kevin Ryan.

According to the World Bank, 41% of Argentines have a debit card and only 7% has requested a loan or saved in a financial institutions. Ualá aims to turn around this situation by helping users manage their money through a connected mobile application and card. The native personal financial management app is linked to a prepaid Mastercard, which allows users to conduct live financial transactions, such as P2P money transfers, purchases, and cell phone top-ups, and to control their expenses.

The current round of financing will be used to accelerate Ualá's user growth, acquire new talent and execute its ambitious product roadmap—including the launch of a credit and savings platforms. 
*"We want to offer innovative and transparent financial services, building a fully-digital, user-centric institution. We are very proud that our original investors continue to support us, and that new investors such as GSIP, Ribbit, and Monashees, are helping us as we seek to transform the way Argentines manage their money,"* said Pierpaolo Barbieri, founder and CEO of Ualá.

*“Ualá’s product offering reduces both cost and friction, while providing a great consumer experience,” said Christopher Dawe, Co-head of Goldman Sachs Investment Partners venture capital & growth equity team. “We are excited by the company’s mission of improving access to critical financial services and look forward to partnering with the Ualá team on their next phase of growth.”*

*“Ualá is building a brand and a service in which users trust. This experience helps people access better financial services with more transparency and in line with their expectations, something that was missing in the market,”* said Meyer “Micky” Malka, founder of Ribbit Capital.
*“We remain very supportive of Ualá and look forward to helping the company accomplish its mission to improve financial access across Latin America,”* said Gary Litt, a portfolio manager at Soros Fund Management LLC.

Argentine Fintech Ualá Raises $10 Million in Series A Funding

# Argentine Fintech Ualá Raises $10 Million in Series A Funding

__Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 6, 2018.-__ Ualá, the Argentina-based personal financial management app, announced today that its parent company has completed a Series A equity financing round of $10 million led by a private investment fund managed by Soros Fund Management LLC with participation of Jefferies, Point72 Ventures, founders of General Catalyst and entrepreneur Kevin Ryan, among others.

In connection with the Series A equity financing, Brian McGrath and Diego Dayenoff have joined the Board of Directors of the parent company of Ualá.

The Series A financing will be used to fund Ualá's continued expansion, user growth and execute its product roadmap, including the launch of its credit platform.

The financing comes at an exceptional time for Ualá which saw a rapidly growing number of users and more than 50,000 cards issued since its launch in October 2017.

Ualá is a personal financial management mobile app developed in Argentina linked to a Mastercard prepaid card that allows users to conduct live financial transactions, such as transferring money and making payments and purchases.

Ualá provides financial inclusion in a country with 92% mobile penetration and 7% consumer credit to GDP, one of the lowest in Latin America. In 2018, users will be able to top up cell phones and pay bills, among other innovations. Ualá will also launch credit and loan products.

*“We are excited to continue to work with Ualá and support its goals of making savings, payments and credit accessible to the unbanked and underbanked in Argentina and the broader Latin American region,”* said Ilan Stern, a portfolio manager at Soros Fund Management LLC.

*“We believe that Ualá has the potential to deepen financial access in the least banked country in Latin America,”* said Brian McGrath, managing director at Jefferies.

*"We often take for granted the breadth of digital financial services available in the US and Europe.  The team at Uala has bundled the services most relevant for the Argentinian population, and the early adoption reinforces their vision of a modern digital financial offering,"* said Pete Casella of Point72 Ventures.

*"We have been amazingly surprised by the demand for our product and we are proud of the trust from our investors.  Argentina is our home and we will continue to expand our user base and features here. Our goal is to revolutionize local finance – but our future is regional. The best is yet to come,"* said Pierpaolo Barbieri, founder of Ualá.