Alza

Alza is a digital banking platform specifically tailored for Latinos residing in the United States. Founded in 2021 by Mexican-American tech entrepreneur Jose Arturo Villanueva, the company aims to address the predatory financial practices often faced by the Latino community. Villanueva, who moved to the U.S. from Monterrey, Mexico at age six, drew from his personal experiences and professional background at the World Bank and Stripe to create a more inclusive banking solution.

The platform provides an FDIC-insured checking account, a Mastercard debit card, peer-to-peer payments, and cross-border remittances to over 20 Latin American countries. Key features designed to serve its target audience include a bilingual app interface and customer service, and the ability for users to verify their identity using various documents from Latin American countries, not just a Social Security Number or ITIN. The business model focuses on simplifying financial friction for individuals new to the U.S., allowing them to store money securely and send it to their home countries through a single platform.

In 2021, Alza secured $6.6 million in a Series A funding round led by venture capital firm Thrive Capital, with participation from BoxGroup and several angel investors. The company is headquartered in New York and has users across all 50 states. However, some sources indicate that as of July 2025, the company is out of business.

Keywords: digital banking, fintech, cross-border remittance, Latino community, financial inclusion, mobile banking, money transfer, FDIC-insured, peer-to-peer payments, bilingual financial services, US to Latin America, financial technology, checking account, debit card, Thrive Capital, Jose Arturo Villanueva