Banks Accelerate Cross-Border Push: Nubank, HSBC, Revolut Unveil New LatAm–Gulf Plays
In a flurry of announcements over the past two weeks, Nubank, HSBC, and Revolut moved to deepen their footprints across Latin America and the Gulf. New licenses, lending commitments, and product launches signal an aggressive end-of-year sprint in international banking expansion.
LatAm Retail Banking Heats Up
On November 14, 2025, Nubank said it is rolling out a full-featured digital savings product in Colombia following supervisory clearance, targeting several million prospects over the next 12 months and earmarking a multi-hundred-million-dollar investment to scale onboarding and customer support. The Brazil-based challenger also reported continued traction in Mexico, where Nu México’s deposit growth and card adoption underpin its expansion thesis, according to recent disclosures. Industry observers note that Nubank’s LatAm footprint is becoming a bellwether for neobank scale in emerging markets, as recent analyst coverage highlights.
On November 19, 2025, Banco Santander emphasized cross-border SME trade between Mexico and the U.S., strengthening cash management and supply-chain finance offerings tied to northbound manufacturing flows. For more on related gaming developments. The move complements Santander’s broader LatAm strategy and comes amid rising demand for multi-currency treasury solutions, according to market commentators.
Gulf Banks Court Global Flows
On November 18, 2025, HSBC unveiled a lending and trade finance commitment focused on GCC SMEs, positioning the bank to capture fast-growing intra-Gulf and Asia-bound corridors. HSBC’s regional leadership cited demand for dollar liquidity and structured trade guarantees as drivers for the initiative, which pairs cross-border cash pooling with integrated FX risk tools, as covered by regional business press.
Separately, on November 10, 2025, Standard Chartered said it received in-principle support to expand digital custody and transaction services for institutional clients in the UAE, aligning with the country’s push to attract foreign financial institutions. The bank’s Gulf buildout intersects with Hong Kong and Singapore strategies, tying together multi-jurisdiction digital infrastructure and compliance, per official notices and industry reporting.
UK and U.S. Challengers Press New Markets
On November 12, 2025, Revolut moved to widen access in Mexico, advancing from pilot to nationwide rollout for core accounts, cards, and money transfer capabilities. For more on related ai developments...