Tala Raises US$150 Million to Boost Lending for Mexico’s SMBs

US-based fintech Tala has secured a US$150 million debt facility to expand its lending operations in Mexico, the company announced on Wednesday. The funding will support Tala’s efforts to provide credit access to small business owners, a key segment of its customer base.

The debt facility, issued by funds managed by US investment firm Neuberger Berman, starts at US$75 million and allows Tala to draw up to US$150 million.

"This capital is for the growth of our Mexico business," said Shivani Siroya, Founder and CEO, Tala, in an interview with Reuters. "As we think about how to widen access, it is ... starting to talk about different platforms, embedded partnerships."

Tala, which specializes in small loans for clients in emerging markets, has more than 10 million clients globally, including over 3 million in Mexico. In 2024, the company approved over US$500 million in loans in Mexico, with an average loan size of approximately MX$2,300 (US$115.41), according to Siroya.

The new funding will enable Tala to expand its credit offerings and explore higher loan limits, more dynamic pricing, and specialized credit products tailored to small business owners. Small and medium-sized enterprises represent about 99% of businesses in Mexico, according to the country’s statistics agency.

Siroya also indicated that Tala is considering further expansion in Latin America, although Mexico remains its only market in the region. The company also operates in Southeast Asia and East Africa.

"There is more to come this year," she added, hinting at potential developments in the firm’s Latin American operations.