CFI Financial Group has begun operations in Colombia, opening an office in Bogotá and appointing Simon Knudson as chief executive of CFI Colombia S.A.S. The move comes nearly nine months after Colombia's Financial Superintendence (SFC) authorized the group to establish a presence in the country, converting regulatory clearance into an operational launch.
The opening of the Colombian unit coincides with increased activity by international brokers in the local market. The SFC approved Plus500's first Latin American office on 19 August 2025, just days before CFI received its own authorization on 28 August. Australian broker ACY and Libertex Group's Mauritius-based offshore brand LBX were cleared within the same week, while Ireland-headquartered AvaTrade obtained SFC authorization in 2024 and has used Colombia as a regional beachhead.
According to the regulatory framework outlined in the source, the SFC license does not permit foreign brokers to solicit deposits or accept orders directly. However, it allows them to promote products approved under local rules and to build a domestic team without establishing a fully capitalized local broker-dealer. Within this structure, Knudson will oversee CFI Colombia S.A.S from Bogotá.
CFI Financial Group's chief executive, Ziad Melhem, described Colombia as an important market for the group, citing strong momentum across Latin America and the arrival of a new generation of traders. The Colombian launch forms part of a broader regional roadmap, coming shortly after CFI secured a brokerage license from Brazil's central bank to operate as a Corretora de Títulos e Valores Mobiliários. This latest authorization brings the group's regulatory footprint to 15 jurisdictions worldwide.
Alongside its geographic expansion, CFI has reported growth in trading activity and client numbers. The group recorded US$2.3 trillion in trading volume for the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 11% from the previous quarter and 81% year-over-year. Over the same period, active clients rose by 18%, underscoring the increase in customer engagement across the business.
The combination of new licenses in Colombia and Brazil, rising trading volumes and expanding client activity positions CFI Financial Group among a cluster of international brokers seeking to build scale in Latin America under the SFC's regulatory framework and similar regimes in the region.
