Nomura arranges USD 500m financing for Mexico's Plata
Plata, the Mexican financial technology company, has secured a new financing of up to US$500 million arranged by Nomura Securities International, the largest funding to date for a Mexican digital financial services company.
The transaction also sets an important precedent: it marks the first time a Japanese top-tier investment bank participates in a financing of this scale within Mexico's digital financial sector, reflecting the growing international interest in Plata and in Mexico's financial system.
The announcement comes as Plata continues to work towards launching operations as a bank, after having received its banking license authorization in December 2024. The company embarked on this extremely rigorous process from the very beginning of the project in the summer of 2022.
This discipline has been key to attracting global capital. Funds from the United States, Europe, and Latin America —including Kora, TelevisaUnivision, Moore Strategic Ventures, Hedosophia, Fasanara Capital, and Baring Ventures— have supported the company. Many of these investors have contributed to the development of globally recognized digital banking models. This strength is reinforced by the participation of a global investment bank like Nomura.
With the backing of Nomura in this new facility, Plata surpasses US$1.6 billion in accumulated institutional financing. In October, the company closed a US$250 million equity round that doubled its valuation to US$3.1 billion.
Plata was founded with proprietary technology, strict controls, and an operating model that has continuously been recognized by investors and authorities in both Mexico and the United States. This approach has allowed the company to consolidate a platform capable of scaling without compromising operational rigor or transparency.
Since entering the market, the company has invested more than US$1 billion in Mexico and created over 3,000 jobs —including more than 500 engineering and technology specialists with experience in complex financial institutions. Today, it has more than 2.5 million active customers thanks to a hybrid model that combines digital operations with in-person verification to ensure secure and reliable onboarding.
Norbert Gehrke
