Caption: John Tonelli President & CEO BancAtlantic
In Brief
- Expansion drive: Latin American financial group Inversiones Atlántida S.A. is introducing its new New York-based investment bank, BancAtlantic Capital, to the Caribbean.
- Regional roadshow: A series of invitation-only meetings, dubbed ‘Caribbean Currents’, will take place across Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica in early October.
- Strategic focus: Led by Wall Street veteran John Tonelli, the firm aims to connect underserved emerging economies and state-owned enterprises with international capital markets.
- Global backing: The move builds on the strength of Grupo Financiero Atlántida, which manages over US$26 billion in assets across eight countries.
NEW YORK, USA (CMC) – A Latin American financial services group is moving to expand its investment banking presence in the Caribbean, with a series of high-level meetings planned in four countries beginning next week.
Inversiones Atlántida S.A., the holding company of Grupo Financiero Atlántida, said it will introduce its newly launched New York-based merchant and investment bank, BancAtlantic Capital, to clients and partners in Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.
The invitation-only events, dubbed “Caribbean Currents,” will be held in Suriname on 5 October, Guyana on 6 October, Trinidad and Tobago on 7 October, and Jamaica on 8 October.
The group said the initiative forms part of its strategy to deepen its Caribbean presence and expand access to financing and international capital markets for businesses and governments in the region.
BancAtlantic Capital is led by co-founder and Chairman and CEO John Tonelli, a veteran Wall Street investment banker with three decades of experience in Caribbean markets. Tonelli previously served as Global Head of Debt Capital Markets at Oppenheimer.
The firm said it will focus on financing emerging economies that have historically been underserved by global investment banks and had limited access to international capital markets.
BancAtlantic will provide investment banking, capital markets, and strategic advisory services, as well as direct capital support and principal investment in high-growth emerging markets.
Grupo Financiero Atlántida Chairman and CEO Guillermo Bueso Anduray said the expansion into the Caribbean represents a continuation of the group’s international growth strategy.
“By leveraging our affiliated commercial banks, insurance companies, and asset managers throughout Central and South America, and with John Tonelli’s leadership and vast experience in the Caribbean, we are uniquely suited to deploy our own capital and provide access to international capital markets for our clients in the region,” he said.
Tonelli said the Caribbean has significant opportunities for economic diversification and capital investment.
“Corporate and state-owned enterprises in this region possess immense, untapped potential,” he said.
“Our objective during this series of events is to engage directly with regional leaders and our local partners to discuss opportunities and demonstrate how we can work together to accelerate economic diversification and increase access to capital markets.”
Grupo Financiero Atlántida has more than 40 companies operating across eight countries in the Americas and Europe and manages more than US$26 billion in assets.
The group, which has a history spanning more than 113 years, has expanded beyond its Honduran base into Central America, the Caribbean, South America, the United States, and Europe.
In 2024, it became the first Honduran financial institution to enter the Spanish financial market.
The group said BancAtlantic will build on its existing relationships in the Caribbean while bringing dedicated investment banking and capital markets capabilities to the region.
BancAtlantic, which is based in New York, combines Wall Street and international capital markets expertise with the financial resources and institutional relationships of Grupo Financiero Atlántida.
The company said its Caribbean expansion is intended to help regional companies and state-owned enterprises access financing, investment, and international capital markets as governments seek to diversify their economies and attract new sources of capital.
