Jelou Secures $10M to Bring AI-Powered Banking to WhatsApp in U.S. Expansion
In a move set to reshape how small businesses handle finances, conversational AI fintech Jelou announced today it has closed a $10 million Series A funding round. The capital will fuel the U.S. expansion of its flagship platform, 'Brain,' which embeds banking transactions—from payments to identity verification and credit assessments—directly within WhatsApp.
The platform, already operational in Latin America's stringent financial regulatory environment, taps into the surging 'conversational commerce' trend. By leveraging AI within a familiar chat interface, Jelou aims to reduce operational friction and costs for businesses while improving customer engagement. "We're moving financial services into the flow of conversation," a company spokesperson stated. "This isn't just about convenience; it's about making essential services accessible where business already happens."
Analysts see the push as part of a broader industry shift where AI is becoming deeply embedded in daily communication tools to streamline operations. The U.S. market, with its high demand for integrated digital solutions, presents a significant growth opportunity for the model Jelou has proven abroad.
Market Pulse: CaixaBank Hits New High
In related financial markets news, Spain's CaixaBank saw its shares rally 6.7% to close at €11.16, marking a new 52-week high. The lender recently reported a net income of €5,891 million for 2025, despite headwinds in net interest income. Its focused digital and demographic strategies are viewed as key drivers for potential margin growth in a challenging rate environment.
Maria Chen, Fintech Analyst at Sterling Insights: "Jelou's traction in Latin America proves there's a solid use case. The U.S. expansion is a logical but competitive leap. Success will hinge on navigating a different regulatory landscape and convincing businesses to shift ingrained habits."
David Park, Small Business Owner: "As someone who manages everything from invoices to client chats on my phone, this is a game-changer. Having secure payment and verification pop up right in my WhatsApp thread would save me hours per week. I'm eagerly waiting for the U.S. launch."
Rebecca Vance, Editor at 'The Finance Skeptic' Blog: "Another day, another 'AI revolution' in finance. We're rushing to put sensitive financial data into chat apps plagued by scams and meta's privacy controversies. This $10M isn't validation—it's a gamble on our collective security fatigue. Convenience at what cost?"
Carlos Ruiz, Venture Partner at Andean Capital: "The funding underscores investor confidence in conversational AI as a legitimate banking channel. Jelou's early focus on regulated markets gave it a compliance maturity that many chatbots lack, which is a critical advantage for scaling."
This article is based on publicly available information and company announcements. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security.