Case Study: Itaú-Unibanco accelerates market entry and launches instant-decision credit cards with FICO

Itaú Unibanco accelerates entry into new markets

São Paulo–based Itaú Unibanco, Brazil’s largest private bank, sought to enter Mexico’s concentrated credit-card market despite having no branch network there, limited brand recognition and strong incumbent competitors that together held about 77% market share. The bank needed a fast, low-risk way to build scale and acquire customers in a recovering economy where trust, speed and a simple application process were critical.

Itaú built strategic commercial alliances (notably with Movistar and PlazaVIP) and used FICO solutions—including Capstone Decision Accelerator, Decision Manager and TRIAD risk models—to enable instant online credit decisions, simple omnichannel applications and immediate card use. The approach delivered rapid portfolio growth, successful partner rollouts and a repeatable roadmap now being applied across other Latin American markets.

Itaú-Unibanco

Ricardo Toledo

Marketing Director