Fintech Franq raises $12.4M to grow its platform for independent bankers
What's the deal? Brazilian fintech Franq has raised R$70M (~$12.4M) in a Series B round to expand its platform that lets experienced bankers work independently, free from ties to any single institution. The round was led by Valor Capital Growth Fund, Quona Capital, and Globo Ventures — all returning investors from Franq's Series A.
The company has now raised more than R$150M since its founding in 2019. The fresh capital will go toward expanding its insurance, investment, and enterprise product lines, as well as AI tools and training for the professionals on its platform.
Why now? Franq closed 2025 with R$2.4B in originated transactions and projects nearly R$4B this year — roughly 80% year-over-year growth. The model is gaining traction as bank branch closures accelerate across Brazil and seasoned financial professionals look for ways to keep serving clients without a corporate employer.
The platform aggregates more than 150 financial products from over 50 partner banks and fintechs, covering mortgages, loans, insurance, and asset-backed credit. Over 10,000 bankers and investment advisers have used it, with a minimum requirement of five years of banking experience.
"What we're enabling is for the banker to be not the bank's manager, but the client's manager — serving them with offers from multiple banks," said founder and chief executive officer Paulo Silva.
What could go wrong? The independent-banker model depends on trust — both from clients who are used to dealing with established institutions and from partner banks willing to share their products on someone else's platform. Scaling a network of freelance financial professionals also raises compliance and quality-control challenges, especially as Franq pushes into regulated areas like insurance and investments.
The signal: Franq is applying the same unbundling logic that transformed real estate and legal services to banking. Silva, a veteran of Banco do Brasil, Citi, HSBC, and Santander, built the company on a simple observation: doctors and lawyers can go independent when they leave an employer, but bankers have always depended on the bank itself.
The bet is that Brazil's digital finance boom — and shrinking branch networks — will create a large, durable supply of skilled professionals who prefer autonomy over institutional life. If the growth holds, Franq could become a key distribution layer sitting between banks and consumers.
Read more: exame.com
