FIE
FIE (FIE SAS) is a Colombian fintech operating a fully digital educational lending platform from Barranquilla, extending credit to students — including those with negative credit reports rejected by traditional scoring — at rates from 1.50% monthly, with its core distribution channel via a strategic alliance with Universidad de la Costa (CUC).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersBarranquilla, Colombia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What FIE does
FIE (FIE SAS, NIT 901.273.824-1) is a Colombian fintech operating a fully digital educational lending platform from Barranquilla, Colombia. The company extends credit to finance higher education costs — undergraduate programs (up to 80% financing, 7-month terms), diplomas (up to 60%, 5-month terms), postgraduate studies (up to 8-month terms), full-coverage financing, refinancing, and revolving credit lines — at interest rates starting from 1.50% monthly variable (19.56% effective annual rate). Its differentiated positioning is financial inclusion: FIE explicitly serves applicants with negative credit reports who are rejected by traditional scoring systems, evaluating those cases individually through qualified consultants. The core distribution channel is a strategic alliance with Universidad de la Costa (CUC), through which the company originates the Crédito CUC-FIE product for students from the first semester onward.
The platform operates as a self-service client portal (portal.fie.com.co), which was migrated to a new infrastructure on November 1, 2024, and is run by technology partner Fábrica de Crédito. Cash collections flow through convenants with Bancolombia, Banco de Occidente, Davivienda, and Banco de Bogotá under an Alianza Fiduciaria structure, with PSE available for electronic payments. FIE is regulated by Colombia's Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), complies with SARLAFT and SAC frameworks, and is affiliated with ColombiaFintech. Marketing relies on the company website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and email.
FIE's revenue model is interest income on its educational loan portfolio, with additional fee revenue from certificate of debt issuance (COP $15,000 + IVA). The customer base is segmented into university students (primary) and financially excluded individuals (secondary), with minimum financing from COP $1,000,000 and a stated <48-hour disbursement turnaround. The company is privately held with 1-10 employees, no disclosed funding rounds, no disclosed revenue, and no institutional investors identified in the source material. Ownership and management team details are not publicly available.
FIE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FIE
- Legal name
- FIE SAS
- Website
- https://fie.com.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- FIE (FIE SAS) is a Colombian fintech operating a fully digital educational lending platform from Barranquilla, extending credit to students — including those with negative credit reports rejected by traditional scoring — at rates from 1.50% monthly, with its core distribution channel via a strategic alliance with Universidad de la Costa (CUC).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FIE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Lending / Educational Credit
- NAICS
- Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222)
- SIC
- Personal Credit Institutions (6141)
- akta.pro industry
- Private Student Loans (Undergraduate & Graduate)In-School Tuition & Fee Financing (Short-term/Bridge)
Keywords
Where FIE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barranquilla
- HQ country
- Colombia
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FIE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Educational Credit Interest Income: FIE generates revenue through interest charged on educational loans, with rates starting from 1.50% monthly variable rate (19.56% E.A.). The company finances undergraduate programs up to 80%, diplomas up to 60%, and postgraduate programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Financiación 100% - 1.50% m.v. (19.56% E.A.) |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Pregrado financing up to 80%, repayment term up to 7 months |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Diplomado financing up to 60%, repayment term up to 5 months |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Posgrado financing with repayment term up to 8 months |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
FIE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FIE grants 100% digital educational credit to Colombian students pursuing higher-education programs (pre-university, undergraduate, diploma, postgraduate) with interest rates starting at 1.50% monthly (19.56% E.A.), up to 80% financing on undergraduate tuition, and disbursement response in under 48 hours. Through its Convenio CUC-FIE alliance with Universidad de la Costa, FIE also evaluates borrowers with negative credit reports on an individual basis, providing a financial-inclusion pathway to those excluded by traditional bank scoring.
Product overview
FIE is a Colombian educational financing company offering a portfolio of 100% digital credit products for higher education. The core offering is the Crédito 100% DIGITAL, supplemented by specialized variants including Pregrado (up to 80% financing, 7-month terms), Diplomado (up to 60% financing, 5-month terms), and Posgrado (up to 8-month terms) products. The company operates through strategic partnerships, most notably with Universidad de la Costa (CUC) under the Crédito CUC-FIE program, which provides financial inclusion for students with negative credit reports. Additional products include full financing options, refinancing, and a revolving credit line facility. All products feature 100% online application processes with 48-hour disbursement response times and interest rates starting at 1.50% monthly (19.56% E.A.).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Crédito 100% Digital (Financiación al 100%) End-to-end online educational credit product for higher-education financing in Colombia, with interest from 1.50% monthly variable (19.56% E.A.), personalized advisor support, and disbursement response within 48 hours; aimed at students who cannot access traditional bank loans.
- Crédito Pregrado Undergraduate-program educational loan covering up to 80% of tuition with a repayment term of up to 7 months, for students financing their bachelor's studies in Colombia.
- Crédito Diplomado Diploma-program educational loan covering up to 60% of program costs with repayment terms up to 5 months, targeting students pursuing short specialization certificates.
- Crédito Posgrado Postgraduate-program educational loan with repayment terms of up to 8 months for students financing master's or specialization studies.
- Crédito CUC-FIE Co-developed educational financing program with Universidad de la Costa (CUC) that offers a fully digital, agile process for students from the first semester—including those with negative credit reports evaluated individually—at a 1.50% monthly interest rate.
- Refinanciación Refinancing option at a 1.50% monthly interest rate for existing FIE borrowers seeking better credit terms.
- Cupo de Crédito Rotativo Revolving credit-line facility for FIE customers, governed by published terms and conditions for debtor and co-debtor, including electronic-signature requirements.
Quantifiable outcome
- Disbursement response time of less than 48 hours
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use FIE
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
FIE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature1 record
FIE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Universidad de la Costa (CUC)coreFIE and Universidad de la Costa have a strategic alliance to promote access to higher education for people facing barriers to traditional credit. The partnership offers a 100% digital, agile solution designed to accompany students throughout their academic journey from the first semester. This convenio allows students with negative credit reports to access financing through individual evaluation.
- BancolombiaminorPayment collection partner through Convenio de Recaudo Referenciado 6010 (Alianza Fiduciaria). Fondo FIE account: 10030032596-6
- Banco de OccidenteminorPayment collection partner through Formato de Recaudo en Línea – Convenio 835 (Alianza Fiduciaria). Fondo FIE account: 10030032596-6
- DaviviendaminorPayment collection partner through Formato Convenios Empresariales – Convenio 1164201 (Alianza Fiduciaria). Fondo FIE account: 10030032596-6
- Banco de BogotáminorPayment collection partner through Formato de Fiduciaria – Fondo Sumar No. 001001121948
- ColombiaFintechminorFIE is affiliated with ColombiaFintech, the Colombian fintech association, demonstrating commitment to industry standards and ecosystem participation
- Alianza FiduciariaminorFiduciary partner handling collection and fund management for loan payments through multiple bank convenants
- Fábrica de CréditominorOperates FIE's transactional portal and digital lending infrastructure
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
FIE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Anexo: Emerging Colombian fintech lending platform focused on consumer credit for underbanked segments. Comparable to FIE on target market (financially excluded Colombians) and digital origination model, though with a broader consumer-lending focus rather than education-specific.
Direct peers
- Brilla (formerly Lumni Colombia): Education-finance fintech operating in Latin America with income-share agreement and credit-based models for students. Comparable to FIE because both target the same Colombian higher-education borrower with alternative financing structures.
- Klym: Colombian fintech focused on education financing and student credit. Highly comparable to FIE given shared geography, target borrower (students), and digital-first underwriting approach.
- SisteCredito: Colombian fintech lender providing personal and education-related credit to underbanked borrowers through digital channels. Comparable to FIE on product type (consumer/education credit), risk appetite for non-prime borrowers, and digital distribution.
- ICETEX: Colombian government student loan agency and the largest provider of higher-education credit in the country. Directly comparable because both FIE and ICETEX underwrite education loans to Colombian students and compete for the same borrower funnel, albeit with very different funding models.
Broad incumbents
- Davivienda: Major Colombian commercial bank offering education loans alongside a broad product suite. Comparable because Davivienda is both a competitor for student credit and a payment-collection partner for FIE, illustrating the incumbent bank overlap.
- Banco de Bogotá: Large Colombian commercial bank with consumer credit and education financing products. Comparable to FIE as a traditional bank-issued education credit alternative for the same Colombian borrower base.
- Sufi (Bancolombia): Bancolombia subsidiary specializing in consumer credit including education financing. Comparable as a Colombian education-credit provider with a digital application flow, but operating inside a large incumbent bank rather than as a fintech specialist.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FIE social profiles
Digital presenceFIE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
FIE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FIE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
FIE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FIE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FIE
What does FIE do?
FIE grants 100% digital educational credit to Colombian students pursuing higher-education programs (pre-university, undergraduate, diploma, postgraduate) with interest rates starting at 1.50% monthly (19.56% E.A.), up to 80% financing on undergraduate tuition, and disbursement response in under 48 hours. Through its Convenio CUC-FIE alliance with Universidad de la Costa, FIE also evaluates borrowers with negative credit reports on an individual basis, providing a financial-inclusion pathway to those excluded by traditional bank scoring.
Is FIE a public or private company?
FIE is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was FIE founded?
FIE was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is FIE based?
FIE is headquartered in Barranquilla, Colombia, in the Latin America region.
How does FIE make money?
One revenue line is on record: educational Credit Interest Income.
Who are FIE's main competitors?
Anexo is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Brilla (formerly Lumni Colombia), Klym, SisteCredito and ICETEX. Broad incumbents are Davivienda, Banco de Bogotá and Sufi (Bancolombia).
Does FIE have an API?
No public API is recorded for FIE.
What industry is FIE in?
FIE's product category is Student Lending / Educational Credit. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAEAB, Private Student Loans (Undergraduate & Graduate), with a secondary code of FSAKAEAG, In-School Tuition & Fee Financing (Short-term/Bridge). Its NAICS code is 5222 and its SIC code is 6141.