Spotlight On: Mario Fujii, President & CEO, BB Americas Bank

Key points:

• • Demand is shifting toward experience-driven events, with organizers prioritizing dynamic, walkable destinations.
• • Partnerships across venues and downtown stakeholders expand capacity and competitiveness.
• • Smaller convention centers compete through flexibility, service, and seamless execution.

April 2026 — Invest: spoke with Mario Fujii, president and CEO of BB Americas Bank, about how the institution leverages Banco do Brasil’s global footprint to serve customers in the U.S., with a particular focus on Miami as a gateway for Latin American clients. “Our objective is to align the user experience across markets while delivering the functionality expected in the U.S. banking environment,” Fujii said.

How would you describe BB Americas Bank’s mission and its role as a U.S. financial institution, delivering innovative banking solutions rooted in a global heritage?

To understand BB Americas, it helps to start with our parent company, Banco do Brasil. It is Brazil’s most traditional financial institution, with 216 years of history and a footprint covering more than 95% of the country’s territory. We serve almost 90 million clients, and our market share is broadly segmented across companies, individuals, and agribusiness.

Because Brazil is in our name and our DNA, we follow Brazil around the globe. Our clients do business internationally, and international markets want to do business with Brazil. Our strategy is to follow what we often call the Brazilian flavor, supporting cross-border needs wherever they arise. In that context, the U.S. market is especially important.

Florida—especially Miami—is a key center for private and international banking, serving many Brazilian and Latin American clients. Banco do Brasil expanded in Florida by acquiring and rebranding a local bank as BB Americas, highlighting its strong connection to its parent company. 

Our mission is aligned with that strategy. Many Banco do Brasil clients in Brazil have international needs, including banking needs in Florida. BB Americas is positioned to serve them in a way that is familiar, trusted, and connected to their financial lives in Brazil. At the same time, we are an American bank and serve U.S.-based customers who benefit from our platform and capabilities.

How has Banco do Brasil’s 200-plus years of experience influenced the bank’s offerings, operational strength, and customer trust in Miami and in the United States?

One of our key differentiators is that we are a long-term relationship bank. In Brazil, we build relationships across generations, serving families over time and understanding their needs deeply. That legacy translates into trust when Brazilian clients come to the U.S. and want a banking partner that understands their expectations and habits.

Clients value stability and tradition, especially when entering a new market. The Banco do Brasil brand reinforces a sense of safety and continuity. That trust carries into our U.S. operations and strengthens our positioning in Miami’s international banking environment.

You mentioned Brazilian banking culture. How does that culture influence the way you carry out your U.S. operations?

Brazilian banking is relationship-driven, and that shapes how we think about service. Clients want to feel understood, and they expect a personalized approach. At the same time, Brazilian clients are accustomed to a highly developed digital banking environment, with advanced technology and intuitive mobile experiences.

When they come to the U.S., they may encounter a different system. Our role is to bridge that transition by maintaining strong digital capabilities while also preserving a relationship-focused model. We believe that nothing substitutes for the human relationship. Digital tools are essential, but the personal connection remains central to the value we deliver.

What digital capabilities have you implemented to simplify everyday banking and cross-border needs?

Banco do Brasil’s mobile app is consistently one of the highest-rated banking apps in Brazil, and millions of clients use it daily. Over the past few years, we have focused on connecting BB Americas with Banco do Brasil’s ecosystem in Brazil. This allows clients to access U.S. services through a familiar digital journey, reducing friction and improving the cross-border experience.

We also provide a dedicated U.S. mobile and online platform for customers who are not Banco do Brasil clients in Brazil. Our objective is to align the user experience across markets while delivering the functionality expected in the U.S. banking environment.

In addition to digital services, we offer a full range of products, including checking and savings accounts, debit and credit cards, and person-to-person payment capabilities such as Zelle for individuals and businesses.

How does the Miami banking landscape shape BB Americas’ strategy and positioning?

Our relationship with Banco do Brasil underpins our strategy, but we are also a solid and regulated U.S. institution. We are FDIC-insured and have surpassed $3 billion in assets, reflecting meaningful scale and stability.

Our loan portfolio is close to $2 billion, with a strong focus on real estate lending. Miami continues to attract international buyers, and we support clients purchasing residential property, including those who may not yet have established U.S. credit histories. Our relationship-based approach allows us to understand clients beyond traditional metrics.

We also see a significant opportunity in further integrating Brazilian clients into the Miami financial ecosystem. There remains strong potential to expand awareness among Brazilian individuals and businesses about the benefits of maintaining a U.S. banking relationship.

In what ways does providing service in English, Portuguese, and Spanish enhance your ability to serve clients?

Language plays a critical role in building trust. Even when clients are comfortable in English, complex financial discussions can be more effective in their native language. Being able to communicate clearly and confidently reduces friction and strengthens relationships.

We provide multilingual support across our branches and through our call center, offering service in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. This capability has been a deciding factor for many clients who value being understood without barriers.

Are there any final themes you would like to highlight?

We see meaningful opportunity in deposits, investments, and lending, particularly in real estate. We have a strong balance sheet and are well-positioned to support our clients’ growth.

Digital transformation remains a strategic priority for us, and we continue to invest in technology. At the same time, our culture emphasizes people. If we take care of our employees and create an environment where they feel supported and engaged, that culture translates directly into better service for clients.

We are proud to have achieved our highest results to date and to be recognized as a great place to work, with a 95 out of 100 rating. Strong culture, strong relationships, and disciplined growth are interconnected, and they define how we move forward.

Want more? Read the Invest: Miami report.