São Paulo, Brazil, February 24, 2017
— IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced an investment in Creditas, a digital platform focused on originating and processing secured loans in Brazil.
IFC led the funding round that raised BRL 60 million (equivalent to $19 million) equity and debt for the company to support its growth in Brazil. Napsters Fintech B.V. joined the financing with the existing investors Redpoint eVentures, Kaszek Ventures, QED Investors, and Quona Capital.
IFC’s investment will help expand access to affordable capital in Brazil, as the secured loans Creditas offers have significantly lower interest rates than unsecured loans. Brazil has the largest retail debt market in Latin America but also has the region’s highest borrowing rates. Unsecured personal loans total $60 billion, made up of credit card, overdraft, and personal loans. In spite of the high interest rates, personal loans are an important source of financial stability for many low-income families in Brazil: credit card borrowing increased fivefold from 2006 to 2015. Creditas takes advantage of the wide reach of the internet and uses the efficiency of technology-based loan processing to offer Brazilians a more convenient, faster and lower cost alternative to gain long-term financing.
According to
Sergio Furio, Creditas CEO
, “this new investment will support our efforts to offer secured loans as an important low-cost financing product in the Brazilian credit market.” Sergio adds that “Creditas is not a bank, nor a conventional company; our innovative business model allows us to help make the credit market more democratic and transparent for Brazilians.”
Kai Schmitz, who leads IFC’s Fintech Investments in Latin America
, commented that “Creditas’ technology helps Brazilians use their assets to invest in their own business or finance large expenses at lower interest rates, helping them to gain financial freedom.” He adds that “Creditas’ financial technology not only benefits consumers, but also traditional financial institutions, which can use Creditas to reach more clients with innovative and attractive products.”
This is IFC’s second investment in Financial Technology from Brazil, following an investment in Guia Bolso in 2016, and the first one as a lead investor. IFC has also invested in Compara Online, Safetypay, and Scanntech, which operate in Brazil. The investment in Creditas adds to IFC’s fast growing portfolio of now over 30
fintech
investments worldwide. The investment in Creditas is aligned with IFC’s strategic focus to support innovative companies that strengthen local financial markets, support small businesses and make financial services more widely available.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our six decades of experience to create opportunity where it’s needed most. In FY16, our long-term investments in developing countries rose to nearly $19 billion, leveraging our capital, expertise and influence to help the private sector end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
About Creditas
Creditas (ex-BankFacil) is a digital credit platform focused on secured loans, whose mission is to reduce high interest expenses in Brazil. Based in São Paulo, Creditas has over 120 employees and uses technology and data intelligence to generate efficiency and reinvent the borrower’s experience. Its hybrid funding model allows it to originate loans using residences or vehicles as collaterals, utilizing resources both from institutional investors and financial institutions. Creditas is supported by venture capital funds Redpoint eVentures, Kaszek Ventures, Quona Capital, QED Investors, IFC (World Bank Group), and Naspers Fintech
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