Banco de Investimento Global

What Banco de Investimento Global does

Banco de Investimento Global S.A. (BiG) is a privately held Portuguese specialized investment bank founded in 1998 and headquartered in Lisbon. It operates under Banco de Portugal banking registration #61 and CMVM authorization under Article 290(1) of the Securities Code, and combines retail banking, brokerage, savings, advisory, and credit intermediation in a single integrated platform. The bank's product surface spans three trading platforms (MyBOLSA for equities, BiGlobalTrade for advanced trading, CFD Trading for derivatives), a fund supermarket, ETFs, bonds, structured products, warrants, futures, options, pension/unit-linked products (PPR), margin accounts, debit (MasterCard) and credit (Visa via UNICRE) cards, term deposits, government savings certificates, and discretionary wealth management (Gestão Discricionária). Automated portfolio advisory engines—Fund Advisor, ETF Advisor, and Equity Advisor—deliver risk-profile-based recommendations.

BiG distributes through a hybrid model: full digital onboarding (video call and Portuguese Mobile Digital Key / Chave Móvel Digital), a network of 14 physical agencies across Portugal (Lisbon, Porto, Guimarães, Braga, Coimbra, Leiria, Viseu, Estoril, Aveiro, Loulé, Linda-a-Velha), a network of linked agents (agentes vinculados) for deposits and credit intermediation, and an iOS/Android mobile application. Revenue is generated across five streams: (1) transaction fees from trading and investment commissions across all instruments; (2) recurring banking account and service fees; (3) transaction commissions from credit intermediation (UNICRE Visa card at TAEG 18.9%); (4) interest income from margin lending (Conta Margem); and (5) net interest spreads on deposits, savings, and government savings certificates. The customer base is primarily horizontal retail individuals, with secondary segments for under-18 juniors, corporate/business accounts, and regulated low-cost basic banking (Serviços Mínimos Bancários at €4.12/year plus stamp duty).

The technology stack is conventional banking infrastructure with no disclosed proprietary AI/ML, no public API, and no SDK. Distribution leverages MasterCard and Visa networks, SIBS/Multibanco for ATM and payment access, and CMVM/Banco de Portugal regulatory relationships. No parent company, external investors, subsidiaries, M&A activity, or funding rounds are disclosed, consistent with a privately held, founder-influenced institution operating independently.

Name

Banco de Investimento Global

Legal name

Banco de Investimento Global S.A.

Website

https://big.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Banco de Investimento Global (BiG) is a privately held Portuguese investment bank founded in 1998, offering retail banking, brokerage, savings, advisory, and credit intermediation through digital channels, 14 physical agencies, and a linked-agent network across Portugal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Affluent/Premier Retail Banking (Mass Affluent) (FSABAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA), SME Treasury & Liquidity Management (FX, Hedging, Sweep/Investment) (FSABABAE), Treasury, Cash Management & Liquidity Tools (Sweeps, Cash Concentration) (FSAGAAAG), Prime Brokerage Financing (Margin/Stock Loan) (FSACAIAD), Private Banking Advisory & Discretionary Portfolio Management (FSABADAD)

Keywords

• Investment banking services
• Online trading platforms
• Retail brokerage services
• Wealth management advisory
• Savings and deposits

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Trading and Investment Services: Commissions from equity trading, fund investments, bonds, ETFs, CFDs, futures, options, warrants, and certificates. Fee-based income from portfolio management and advisory services (Fund Advisor, Equity Advisor, ETF Advisor, Gestion Discretionnaire).
2. Banking Services: Account maintenance fees, deposit account services, and transaction commissions for standard banking operations.
3. Credit Intermediation: BiG acts as a linked credit intermediary (intermediário de crédito vinculado) for UNICRE, earning commissions for credit card intermediation. TAEG 18.9% for Visa credit card.
4. Margin Account Interest: Interest income from margin lending facilities (Conta Margem) offered to customers for investing or personal projects.
5. Savings Products: Interest spread from deposit products including Super Conta, time deposits, savings accounts, and government savings certificates (Certificados de Aforro e Tesouro).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Banco de Investimento Global (BiG) is a Portuguese specialized financial institution that combines retail banking services with a comprehensive online investment platform. It offers deposit and savings products, MasterCard debit and Visa credit cards, and direct access to equities, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, structured products, CFDs, futures, options and warrants through proprietary trading platforms (MyBOLSA, BiGlobal Trade, CFD Trading). It supplements execution with discretionary portfolio management and automated advisory services (Fund Advisor, ETF Advisor, Equity Advisor), distributed via digital channels, 14 physical branches and a network of linked agents in Portugal.

Product overview

Banco de Investimento Global (BiG) operates as a multi-channel Portuguese investment bank offering a unified platform of financial products and services. The core offering consists of online trading platforms (MyBOLSA, BiGlobal Trade, CFD Trading) for direct securities investment alongside traditional banking services. The product portfolio spans investment products (stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, structured products, derivatives), savings products (term deposits, savings accounts, government certificates), card products (MasterCard debit and Visa credit), advisory services (Fund Advisor, ETF Advisor, Equity Advisor, discretionary management), credit facilities (margin account), and mobile banking (APP BiG). The platform architecture combines self-service digital channels with personalized professional advisory, targeting both retail investors and institutional clients across Portugal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MyBOLSA Trading Platform

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UNICRE - Instituição Financeira de Crédito, S.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUNICRE is the credit provider for the BiG Visa credit card. BiG acts as a linked credit intermediary (intermediário de crédito vinculado) under contract with UNICRE, registered with Banco de Portugal. BiG presents and proposes credit contracts to consumers without receiving or delivering credit-related values. The UNIBANCO brand (owned by NOVO BANCO, S.A.) issues the Visa credit card.
• MasterCardcoreTechnology or IntegrationMasterCard is the payment network for BiG's debit card. The BiG MasterCard debit card operates on the global MasterCard network with over 28.8 million acceptance locations worldwide. The card includes chip EMV technology, contactless payment functionality, and fraud protection services.
• VISAcoreTechnology or IntegrationVISA is the payment network for BiG's credit card. The Visa BiG card operates internationally at any VISA-accepting merchant worldwide and online. TAEG 18.9% for credit card balances. UNIBANCO (NOVO BANCO brand) is the card issuer.
• SIBScoreTechnology or IntegrationSIBS provides payment infrastructure for the Multibanco network in Portugal. BiG cards can be used at ATMs and payment terminals across the SIBS/Multibanco network. SIBS 24-hour cancellation line available for card emergencies.
• CMVM (Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários)coreOthersRegulatory oversight for investment services. BiG is authorized by CMVM under Article 290(1) of the Securities Code. The list of BiG's linked agents is available through CMVM's information diffusion system for financial intermediaries.
• Banco de PortugalcoreOthersPrimary banking regulator. BiG is registered with Banco de Portugal under registration number 61 as a bank and linked credit intermediary, subject to supervisory oversight. Manages Deposit Guarantee Fund (Fundo de Garantia de Depósitos) and Investor Compensation System (Sistema de Indemnização aos Investidores) in Portugal.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Interactive Brokers: Global low-cost multi-asset broker serving sophisticated retail and professional investors. Captures Portuguese self-directed and active traders who might otherwise use BiG's advanced platforms.
• Banco BPI: One of Portugal's largest universal banks with a substantial investment funds and advisory business. Competes with BiG for retail investors seeking professional asset management alongside banking services.
• Novo Banco: Major Portuguese bank (successor to BES) offering full banking and investment services, including proprietary trading platforms and advisory. Its UNIBANCO brand is BiG's credit-card issuing partner and a broader competitor.
• Millennium BCP: Largest private Portuguese universal bank with retail brokerage, investment funds, and trading platforms. Sets the competitive ceiling for scale and cross-sell against BiG's narrower offering.
• Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD): Portuguese state-owned universal bank with the largest domestic deposit base and a significant investment funds/advisory franchise. Competes for BiG's target retail investor segment at a much larger scale.

Emerging players

• DEGIRO: Pan-European low-cost online broker with strong presence in Portugal. Competes directly with BiG's MyBOLSA and BiGlobalTrade on retail trading commissions and platform UX.

Regional players

• Activobank: Portuguese digital bank (Millennium BCP group) offering online banking, savings, and investment products. Comparable in digital-first delivery model and Portuguese retail focus.
• Bison Bank: Portuguese digital bank targeting retail and affluent clients with savings, investment, and advisory products. Comparable as a small, digitally positioned Portuguese competitor.

Direct peers

• Banco Invest: Portuguese online bank focused on investment products and trading services for retail clients. Directly comparable to BiG as a smaller, digital-first Portuguese investment-oriented bank.
• Banco Carregosa: Portuguese private bank with an investment-focused offering, discretionary management, and trading platform for affluent retail and family office clients. Direct competitor to BiG in the Portuguese specialist investment-bank niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BancoBiG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bancodeinvestimentoglobal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Banco de Investimento Global