Nubank in Colombia 2026: what changed and whether it's worth it

Table of Contents

• What changed in Colombia with Nu's arrival
• The expansion strategy: from Brazil to the United States

  • Three moves in 2026 that show where it's headed
• My use: temporary virtual cards for buying online
• What you should know before using it
• Verdict: is Nu worth using?
• Nu's end-of-year campaign
• Sources

Nu arrived in Colombia five years ago and today has more than 5 million customers, close to 15% of the country's adult population. Here I review what changed in Colombian banking with its arrival, where it is expanding next and whether I truly recommend it, based on my daily use.

What changed in Colombia with Nu's arrival

The biggest change wasn't Nu itself, but what it forced everyone else to do. According to the company, its entry accelerated the point at which interest-bearing accounts and free instant transfers became the market standard.

• A credit card with no monthly fee. The Nu card charges $0 for monthly fee, issuance and replacement. Before, paying a monthly fee just to have a card was almost mandatory.
• A first card for many people. Around 1 million Colombians received their first credit card with Nu.
• Savings started to earn. The Cajitas (Nu's savings pockets) of the Cuenta Nu (Nu's account) pay daily interest; in 2026 they yield around 9.30% E.A. Today several traditional banks and neobanks compete with similar products.
• Real coverage. Nu has customers in 100% of Colombia's departments and in more than 95% of its municipalities, including towns like Aguadas, where there isn't always a bank branch nearby.
• Real regulation. Nu Colombia operates as a financing company supervised by the Superintendencia Financiera (Colombia's financial regulator), and deposits are insured by Fogafín for up to 50 million pesos per person.

As of May 2026, Nu Colombia held more than 10 trillion pesos in deposits across accounts and CDTs (fixed-term deposits).

The expansion strategy: from Brazil to the United States

Nu already has close to 140 million customers and its next step is the United States. The strategy repeats country by country: enter with a no-fee credit card, add an account that pays interest, and then apply for a broader license to offer more products.

Country	Customers (Sept. 2026)	Stage
Brazil	118 million	Home market; full bank
Mexico	15.8 million	Already holds a banking license
Colombia	More than 5 million	Financing company; 5 years in the country
United States	In preparation	Conditional approval from the OCC to operate as Nubank NA

Three moves in 2026 that show where it's headed

1. US license. The OCC (the US banking regulator) granted conditional approval for a national bank. Once it has the full license, it plans to offer deposit accounts, credit cards, personal loans and digital asset custody. It targets the Hispanic market; it even bought the naming rights to Inter Miami's stadium.
2. Nu Global. Announced on September 10, 2026 in Miami, it is a multi-currency account with balances in USDC and EURC (stablecoins pegged to the dollar and the euro), transfers to more than 35 countries and a virtual Mastercard. Integration with Colombia is planned for the coming months, with no exact date yet.
3. More investment in Colombia. Nu plans to invest 473 billion pesos (about US$130 million) in the country during 2026.

The business backs the bet: in the second quarter of 2026, Nu Holdings reported record net income of US$1.1 billion, 49% more than a year earlier.

My use: temporary virtual cards for buying online

The Nu feature I use the most is temporary virtual cards, and it's the main reason I recommend it. Nu launched them in Colombia in May 2025: they are cards you create in seconds from the app that expire on their own after 24 hours.

Why they give me peace of mind:

• I never expose my main card. If the store leaks the data, what leaks is a number that no longer works the next day.
• Ideal for sites I don't know or for signing up for free trials without fear of surprise charges later.
• Total control. From the app I create them, view them, block them or delete them.
• They work in credit and debit mode.

The one caveat: they don't work for subscriptions billed every month, because when the card expires the service will ask you for another payment method. For that I use the permanent virtual card.

One example of how I use it: when I buy games, software or gift cards at digital stores, I pay with a temporary card. If you buy that kind of product, at Eneba you get a 5% discount with my link. It's an affiliate link: you pay less and it helps me keep the blog going.

What you should know before using it

No monthly fee doesn't mean free: if you split purchases into installments, the rate is high. These are the costs of the Nu credit card according to its current fee schedule (source):

Item	Cost
Monthly fee	$0
Issuance and replacement	$0
Interest on installment purchases	29.24% effective annual rate (2.16% monthly)
Purchases in a single installment	No interest
Cash advance	COP $6,800
International purchases	0.45% on top of the exchange rate

My rule: I buy in a single installment and pay the full balance every month. That way the card costs me nothing. Rates change every month with Colombia's usury rate cap, so check the fee schedule before financing anything.

Other things to keep in mind:

• Everything happens in the app. There are no branches; if you prefer in-person service, Nu isn't for you.
• Approval isn't automatic. Nu checks Datacrédito and Cifin (Colombia's credit bureaus) and may deny the card or give you a low limit at first.
• It's a financing company, not a bank in Colombia. It's supervised by the Superfinanciera and has Fogafín insurance, but it's worth knowing the difference.

Verdict: is Nu worth using?

Yes, if you use it with discipline. For me it's the best option in Colombia for shopping online safely and having a card that doesn't charge me just for existing.

It works for you if:

• You shop online often and want to protect your data with temporary cards.
• You want your first credit card without paying a monthly fee.
• You want a simple place to save that earns interest every day.
• You live far from a branch and do everything from your phone.

It's not for you if:

• You usually split purchases into many installments: there, the rate of almost 30% E.A. hurts.
• You need in-person service or big-bank products, like a mortgage.

This is my experience as a user, not financial advice. Compare rates and terms before deciding.

Nu's end-of-year campaign

At Nu, December starts to be felt as early as September. Its 2026 end-of-year campaign rewards those who join by referral: if you apply with a customer's link, we both enter for prizes like a trip to San Andrés, a phone and cash prizes. It's a good example of its strategy: growing through its own users instead of spending on branches.

If after reading this you want to try it, you can apply to Nu with my link. It's a referral link: it costs you nothing and we both enter the draw. Check the campaign's terms and conditions in the Nu app.

Sources

• Nu Colombia turns five with 5 million customers — Nu, May 2026
• Nubank is now in the United States and celebrated "The Nu Era" — ABC Economía, September 2026
• Nubank launches Nu Global, with accounts in digital dollars and euros — Bloomberg Línea
• Nu Colombia launches virtual cards that expire in 24 hours — Portafolio
• Fees and costs of the Nu credit card — Nu Colombia
• Nu Colombia in 2026: Cajitas yield, CDT and credit card — Revista Empresarial & Laboral