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<p class="lead"><strong>The Federal Reserve greenlights Banco Inter S.A. to open its first U.S. branch in Miami, signaling Brazil's growing influence in the competitive U.S. financial market and marking a significant moment for international banking.</strong></p>
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<p class="article__time"><strong>Read Time:</strong> 2 minutes, 15 seconds</p>
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<h2 class="title">Federal Reserve Approves Banco Inter’s U.S. Expansion, Targets Florida Market</h2>
<p class="releaseTime">For release at 1:45 p.m. EST</p>
<p>In a strategic move that reshapes the landscape of **international banking**, the **Federal Reserve Board** announced on January 16, 2026, its approval of the application by **Banco Inter S.A.**, a leading Brazilian digital bank, to establish a state-licensed branch in Miami, Florida. This decision marks a pivotal entry point for the Latin American fintech giant into the highly competitive **U.S. financial market**, specifically targeting the vibrant **Miami, Florida** business corridor. The approval underscores the Federal Reserve's role in regulating and facilitating foreign bank operations within the United States, ensuring stability while fostering global financial integration. This move is closely watched by investors and analysts as a bellwether for the growing trend of cross-border banking and **international banking supervision.**</p>
<p>The establishment of a Banco Inter branch in Miami is more than a routine **Federal Reserve Board announcement**; it represents a calculated foray into a key gateway for trade and finance between the Americas. Miami has long served as a hub for Latin American business, making it an ideal location for Banco Inter to serve both its existing Brazilian clientele with U.S. interests and to attract new customers in the region. The approval process involved rigorous scrutiny of the bank's capital adequacy, risk management frameworks, and compliance with U.S. banking laws, reflecting the stringent standards of **U.S. financial market** regulators. This expansion is expected to introduce greater competition in retail and commercial banking services in Florida, potentially offering innovative digital banking solutions that have fueled Banco Inter's success in Brazil.</p>
<p>For the finance sector in the United States, this announcement is a significant development. It highlights the increasing interconnectedness of global finance and the attractiveness of the **U.S. financial market** to established foreign institutions. The **Federal Reserve Board's** decision provides a template for how international banks can navigate the complex U.S. regulatory environment to establish a physical presence. As Banco Inter prepares to launch its operations, the focus will be on how it adapts its digital-first model to the U.S. context and complies with ongoing **international banking supervision**. This approval could pave the way for similar applications from other fintech-driven foreign banks, signaling a new chapter in cross-border financial services and competition.</p>
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<h4>Key Takeaways</h4>
<p>The Federal Reserve has approved Banco Inter S.A.'s application to open a branch in Miami, FL, a major step for international banking in the U.S. financial market. This move underscores Miami's role as a financial gateway and reflects rigorous Federal Reserve Board supervision. It signals growing foreign bank competition and sets a precedent for future international banking expansion under strict U.S. regulatory oversight.</p>
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<p><em>For media inquiries, please email <a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2b464e4f424a6b4d5949054c445d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f49991909d95b4928696da939b82">[email protected]</span></a> or call 202-452-2955.</em></p>
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<p>Last Update: January 16, 2026</p>
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