“Hybrid is the best of both worlds”

The founder and CEO of NubanqueDavid Vélez, said the fintech should have changed its working model sooner, from teleworking to hybrid. Announced at the beginning of November, the change sparked controversy and layoffs within the digital bank.

“I think the hybrid model is the best of both worlds,” he said. Velez on Tuesday 10, in conversation with journalists. “This model generates a weekly space allowing all teams to be physically together, which is fundamental for the functioning of a financial institution,” underlined the manager.

Factors such as creativity, communication, innovation and productivity require face-to-face work, according to Vélez. With hybrid, it is still possible to work from home. “Hybrid is probably the future of work.”

In a 100% remote job, Vélez emphasized that building a culture and developing products is a difficult task. Creation and invention are things that happen when a group of people are in a room together and brainstorming problems, ideas, and projects. “Nubank started like that,” Vélez said. And much of the agility we had early on was lost during the 100% remote phase of the pandemic.

Nubank will move in June 2026 from a remote model to a two-day-a-week model; in January 2027, it will be three days.

Vélez said a series of flexibilities were offered to employees to adapt, such as the possibility of choosing the office in which they want to work, in addition to eight months of adaptation time and even financial assistance to move to another city.

“We’re trying to make this change in the least traumatic way possible.” But disgruntled employees used internal communication channels to criticize the measure, there were layoffs and the bank employees’ union joined the discussion.

At Nubank’s headquarters in São Paulo, there is no longer room for all the employees. Expansion is therefore necessary, said the bank’s president in Brazil, Livia Chanes. New offices are also opened in Campinas and Belo Horizonte.

Campos Neto

Regarding the controversy surrounding the hiring of former Central Bank President Roberto Campos Neto, criticized for quickly moving from regulator to regulated company, Vélez said he did not understand the reason for the problem, as he was away for some time before taking on the fintech role, the so-called “garden leave”.

Furthermore, the Nubank CEO pointed out that other former BCs have gone to work in the private sector, in Brazil and other parts of the world.

Vélez said Campos Neto also spoke with other banks before deciding on Nubank and praised the former central banker. “He has very strong knowledge of macroeconomics, banking and financial regulation and a very good understanding of technology.”