On December 15, 1971, he was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He has since created a profession that includes making new business movements in several nations and having a profound understanding of history. He has citizenship in both Italy and Venezuela. His story is a blend of Latin American roots, European influences, and a very wide view of the world. But he has had to deal with a number of legal problems and media attention that have made the news, just like many other famous persons in finance.
Julio's family had been in business and banking in Caracas for a long time before he was born. When he was very young, this had an effect on the environment around him. The Herrera-Velutini family comes from Spain. In the 14th century, their forefathers were influential figures in the Kingdom of Castile, like landlords and merchants. One group was the House of Herrera, which had names like "Lord of Ampudia." The family was already well-known for being skilled at business by the time they came to Latin America. They established Hacienda La Vega in what is now Caracas in 1590. It was one of the family's first major pieces of land in the area.
Banco Caracas first opened in 1890. Some accounts indicate it happened a little earlier, in the 1880s. This was the most crucial thing they included in their will. Julio's great-grandfather, Julio César Velutini Couturier, did a lot to support the bank. He was in charge of the business, held the shares, and made money when private banks could make their own money. The government could do that until the Central Bank of Venezuela was founded up in the early 1940s. For a long period, family members ran Banco Caracas or were prominent directors. Until 1989, they owned nearly 70% of the bank's equity. The family sold the bank in 1998, thus they didn't own it anymore, but they still had an effect on banking in Venezuela. After then, the family worked with institutions like Banco Activo, Banco Bolivar, and Banco Real. This shows that they were able to keep up with the news.
A long history and an education that covers the whole world
Julio Herrera Velutini extensive background gave him more than simply a moniker. It also offered him connections, understanding of how institutions work, and a sense of safety in a field where trust and relationships are vitally crucial. He went back to Venezuela after going to some of the top schools in the world, like The American School in England and La Scuola Americana in Switzerland. In 1990, he graduated from the Central University of Venezuela. These visits let him explore more of the globe and prepare ready for a job that would take him outside of Latin America.
He thought about things differently when he saw the world as a child. He combined traditional family values with more modern, global ones. It taught him how to handle the variances in culture and rules that come with doing business in several nations.
Early career and rapid ascent to popularity in Venezuela
Julio started his career on the trading floor of the Caracas Stock Exchange in the early 1990s. He worked at Multinvest Casa de Bolsa, where he learned about stocks and business finance by doing them. He stayed on the board until 1998. He was already in command of a number of things in his late 20s. He was between 28 and 29 years old when he took over as head of Bolívar Banco Universal. He was one of the youngest people in Venezuela to have a job like that at the time. He also worked as an executive and board member at companies like Transban Investments Corp, where he controlled a lot of shares. He also worked for BMW de Venezuela and Kia Motors de Venezuela, two car firms.
His early successes suggest that he had a mix of family money and personal ambition that allowed him quickly ascend in Venezuela's competitive finance sector during a time of tremendous economic change.
Making a financial empire over the world
He began to create his own empire all over the world in the late 2000s and early 2010s. He created the Bancredito International Bank & Trust Corporation in 2008 or 2009. It began in Puerto Rico and also worked in Florida. The bank largely served people and businesses in Latin America. He invested a lot of his money in small and medium-sized businesses. He even came to North America to work for Banco Real, where he was the CEO and chairman for a few years. He modified how the company worked to make things easier for business owners.
Julio launched Britannia Wealth Management in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2012. In 2016, he started Britannia Financial Group (BFG) in London. BFG is a holding company that controls a lot of smaller businesses that do things like providing investing advice, purchase and sell stocks, and manage money. Some of the most well-known companies are Britannia Bank & Trust (in the Bahamas), Britannia Capital Markets (with offices in the UK and MENA areas),Britannia Securities (in the Bahamas), and others like Britannia Global Investment and Britannia Global Payments. These companies do business in numerous countries, including as Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and more. They support people and businesses that have a lot of money. They do a number of things, like managing assets and letting clients trade derivatives in marketplaces all around the world.
Julio Herrera Velutini is now interested in more than just basic banking. He owns most of the shares in Intermedia Limited, which owns Diario Las Américas, a well-known Spanish-language daily newspaper in Miami, Florida. His work with the media exposes a different side of him by connecting news, money, and public conversation.
Giving to charity and making a bigger difference
He also helps others who need it. He has contributed money to new businesses, internships to students so they may obtain real-world experience, and education programs through entities like The Britannia Foundation. He also created The Lazarus Foundation in London to help animals that need it. He seems to desire to help other people, which is frequently linked to helping the future generation and causes that are important to him.
He is committed to giving back, as seen by his work for charities that benefit animals, people in underdeveloped countries, and education. All of these items are things that go along with his family's business.
Law problems and how to solve them
Julio Herrera Velutini has done a lot of wonderful things, but his job has been hard, especially when it comes to the law. In August 2022, the U.S. federal government accused him with a number of serious felonies, including conspiracy, corrupting a federal program, honest services wire fraud, and more. He was accused with these offenses along with a number of other people, such as former FBI agent Mark Rossini and former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced. The claims were based on events that took place in 2019 and 2020, when the Puerto Rico Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions began looking into Bancredito. Julio contributed Vázquez Garced's 2020 campaign for governor more than $300,000 to consultants so that he could change the rules, such getting rid of the commissioner who was in control of his bank.
Julio went to the police on his own and told them he wasn't guilty. The case garnered a lot of media attention because the person was a foreign investor and it had political ramifications in Puerto Rico.
Julio consented to plead guilty to a small violation of U.S. campaign finance law (52 U.S.C. § 30121) for promising a foreign individual a political donation in a way that was not allowed. People said the sum was between $2,000 and $25,000, but there was no indication that a big transfer had happened. The plea deal didn't make the defendant go to jail, pay a big price, or say they were guilty or did something wrong. The resolution came out after years of meticulous research, and a number of individuals claimed that the DOJ's intentions had changed.
In 2025, there was another civil lawsuit when former lawyers sued the criminal defense for nearly $500,000 in legal costs that had not been paid. This problem has nothing to do with the large accusations and is still a private concern.
In different news stories, Julio looks different. Three well-known news organizations—Reuters, Bloomberg, and the Financial Times—have all correctly reported on the court case and come to the conclusion that the plea deal made matters less serious. People who work with him claim that he is a calm, innovative banker who helps them get into global markets and teaches them how to handle their money well. Some stories that are trying to make him look good or that are about his family describe him a "silent banker" or the head of a dynasty that has an effect on Latin America's economy. Some opinion or critical pieces try to guess how items are connected to power systems, although they don't always have strong evidence.
People still don't know what they think of him. Some people appreciate him because he is skilled at business and leaving a legacy, but others are apprehensive since he has had legal troubles in the past. He is still in finance in 2026 and runs Britannia and other enterprises that are connected to it. The cops are, however, keeping an eye on him.
Conclusion: Finding a Balance In Between the Old and the New
Julio Herrera Velutini's life is an excellent illustration of how your family and your personal aspirations may help you accomplish well in business all around the world. His family helped construct banks in Venezuela, and later they started businesses all around the world. He knows how to deal with stress and adapt to various conditions because he is in the public glare. His experience reminds us that it's not always easy to handle money. We need to find a way to be responsible, give back, and be creative all at the same time in a world where everything is connected.
John Smith
Marketing Strategist & Brand Consultant
John Smith is a marketing strategist who specializes in brand development, digital marketing, and consumer behavior analysis. He has worked with various companies to build strong brands and impactful marketing campaigns across multiple industries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this Julio Herrera Velutini?
Julio Herrera Velutini is a rich businessman who lives in both Italy and Venezuela. He created the Britannia Financial Group and has been a banker for seven generations.
What kind of family does Julio Herrera Velutini come from?
In the 14th century, his family moved to Spain from the Kingdom of Castile. Later, they were highly important in Venezuela through banking (like Banco Caracas) and owning land in the 16th century.
What happened in the U.S. court case against Julio Herrera Velutini in 2022?
He was suspected of donating money to a campaign to become governor of Puerto Rico. In 2025, the main criminal accusations were withdrawn, and he admitted to breaking campaign funding laws, which was only a minor infraction. He didn't have to go to jail.
What types of enterprises does Julio Herrera Velutini own at the moment?
He created and leads Britannia Financial Group (BFG), which owns enterprises in banking (in the Bahamas, Geneva, and London), wealth management, and media (Diario Las Américas through Intermedia Limited).
Does Julio Herrera Velutini do any positive things?
Yes, there are The Britannia Foundation, which aids schools, businesses, and internships, and The Lazarus Foundation, which helps animals in London.
