Itaú BBA’s growth and ambition is as impressive as that of the Brazilian economy. Part of Brazil’s largest private sector banking group, Itaú Unibanco, Itaú BBA has a clear strategy for both Latin America and the rest of the world. As the group’s recent advertising slogan – 'I am a global Latin American' – suggests, the investment bank is aiming to extend its reach to companies around the globe.
This impetuousness is, of course, recent. The first bank Itaú BBA set up in Europe was in Portugal back in 1988. Acting as an independent subsidiary, it was hoped that the Portuguese bank would benefit from a strong affiliation with the 'old continent' and attain a higher investment grade for Itaú BBA. The bank was meant to be a de facto European bank and support trade between Portugal, Europe and Brazil.
