Julio Herrera Velutini's career biography is interesting because it tells the story of how a family of bankers turned their small business into a huge global financial powerhouse. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela, on December 15, 1971. He grew up in a business world. The Herrera-Velutini family has lived in Spain since the 1400s, when they owned land, ran businesses, and eventually became bankers. They have been important in Venezuela since colonial times. José Antonio Velutini Ron was a politician, diplomat, and even president of Venezuela in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The family's banking story really took off in the 1800s. They helped start Banco Caracas in 1890 (or around 1880 in some stories), and it grew to be one of the best banks in the country. Family members ran it for a long time. These kinds of banks even made their own money before Venezuela got a central bank in 1940. Julio's ancestor, Julio César Velutini Couturier, played a big role in the growth of Banco Caracas, the centralization of its shares, and the daily running of the bank. The family was in charge most of the time, but they sold their share in the late 1980s after being in charge for more than a hundred years. This legacy had an effect on Venezuela's economy, real estate, and even politics. It wasn't just about the money.
Early Life and Education in a Banking Environment
Julio was naturally affected by growing up in this environment. He had a lot of money as a kid, but he also had to follow strict rules. He went to school in different countries when he was a kid. He went to The American School in England and La Scuola Americana in Switzerland, which helped him see things in a new way. He graduated from the Central University of Venezuela in 1990, and that was also when he started working in the real world of finance.
The Beginning: Trading on the Caracas Stock Exchange
Julio didn't wait until school was over to begin. Some stories say he began trading on the Caracas Stock Exchange in the early 1990s, possibly as early as 1991, when he was still in his late teens or early 20s. He learned about stocks, how trading works, and how Venezuela's economy was doing during a tough time by quickly looking at the markets.
Early Leadership Roles in Venezuela
He quickly became the head of Multinvest Casa de Bolsa, a brokerage firm, and was on the board from 1992 to 1998. He didn't just work there; he learned how to do real things in investments, operations, and brokerage. By the time he was in his mid-20s, he was already showing the leadership skills that would shape the rest of his career. In 1998, when he was only 27 or 28 years old, he became the CEO of Transban Investments Corp., which is also known as Inversiones Transbanca. He owned a lot of the company and made decisions about investments in the car industry, the financial services industry, and even the Venezuelan branches of BMW and Kia Motors.
At the same time, he also became a senior executive at Bolívar Banco Universal. At age 29, he became the Board's Chairman. He was one of the youngest people in charge of a big bank in Venezuela. These early leadership positions showed that he could do his job well and handle things when they got tough. He also started or worked with companies like Financiera Venezolana and worked with groups that move securities and do other financial tasks.
These years in Venezuela helped me become who I am. Julio saw how changes in the economy, politics, and the market could affect banks. It made him think about more than just his own country.
Expansion and Acquisitions in the 2000s
With help from family and business partners, he bought companies like Caja Caracas Casa de Bolsa, IBG Trading (in the U.S.), Banco Real, and Banreal International Bank in 2006 and 2007. He was the CEO and Chairman of Banco Real from 2007 to 2009. He changed the company's business strategy to focus more on small business owners, made it easier to get loans, built a new headquarters in Caracas, and helped with a merger at the same time.
This time, he proved that he could change institutions and move to new markets. But the real change came when he decided to do something big on his own.
Founding Bancredito: A New Chapter in International Banking
He started Bancredito International Bank & Trust Corporation, or Bancredito, with just $5 million in 2008–2009. It is a bank that was started in Puerto Rico and does business in Florida. The bank did very well. Its capital grew to about $60 million, and the assets it managed grew to more than $600 million. It mostly worked with private clients, businesses, and groups from Latin America. He also started the Bancredito Foundation to help people with money and other good causes.
People in Latin America could find business opportunities all over the world through Bancredito. It was run by Puerto Rico's laws and watched over by organizations like the Federal Reserve. It was a smart move at a time when many people in the area were looking for good answers outside of the country.
The Rise of Britannia Financial Group: A Global Financial Dream
In the 2010s, Julio became famous all over the world. In 2012, he started Britannia Wealth Management in Geneva, Switzerland. The family had never done business in Europe before this. The Britannia Financial Group (BFG) began in 2016. London is where it has its main office, and it has strong ties to Switzerland.
Britannia grew into a global company that worked in many fields, including private banking, asset management, securities, consulting, investment management, and more. Here are some of the most important parts: Britannia Capital Markets Limited is based in the UK. The company Britannia Wealth Management is based in Switzerland. The Bahamas has Britannia Bank & Trust. Britannia Securities in the Bahamas. Britannia Global Investment, Global Payments, and a few others. They bought Berkley Futures, a London-based broker, in 2019.
The group works with rich people, institutional investors, and offers services that are specific to their needs. They do this by being honest, following the rules, and coming up with new ideas and technologies. Julio has linked Britannia to Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, and even the Middle East.
Philanthropy and Broader Impact
He wants to help the neighborhood and is interested in more than just money. He owns Diario Las Américas in Miami through Intermedia Limited. He started the Lazarus Foundation in London to help animals and the Britannia Foundation to help programs for young artists, business owners, and student internships.
Long-Term Effects, Challenges, and Legacy
Julio Herrera Velutini's rise from working on the trading floors of Caracas to running a global network shows how much a person's family can help them succeed. He has been a banker for seven or eight generations, but the exact number is a little different.
Some reports say he is worth between $1 billion and $2 billion, and most people think he is worth billions of dollars. He built it up by making smart investments, buying things, and not showing off his money too much. People call him "The Silent Banker" because he doesn't want to be in the spotlight. Instead, he works to make institutions stronger.
At this level of work, there are always problems to deal with. In 2022, he had legal problems in Puerto Rico because some people said that former Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced used campaign money for her own needs. He came in alone and said he wasn't guilty at first. Most of the accusations were dropped by 2025. A minor crime ended the case. These things show how closely people watch big investors, but they haven't stopped him from making a difference.
Julio still has an impact on banking around the world today through Britannia and other companies that mix old-fashioned ideas with new-world methods. His business includes the active Caracas Stock Exchange and offices in London, Geneva, and other cities.
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.
