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Mention in the international press: "11Onze, the new digital community bank attracts private investors"

“Being digital will not compromise 11Onze’s ambition to offer a personal service” James Sène, Founder and Chairman of 11Onze Banc.

 

With these words Sène introduces 11Onze to the international community in his interview to Finextra, the leading platform and independent source of news and information for the global financial technology community.

Below, you can read the full article in Catalan published on 2 March 2021 originally in English on Finextra.

Over 148 private investors have become founding shareholders in a new digital community bank for Catalan people.

 

The new bank offers a mix of digital and traditional relationship banking services, alongside a private social network and B2B marketplace.

The startup is building on the strong sense of kinship shared by the Catalonian community, which erupted five years ago in a struggle to secure independence from Spain.

Jordi Roset, co-owner of the Petrolis Independents fuel chain, explains his decision to become a founding shareholder: “I am not investing in the bank like those shareholders who are all day looking at the stock market to see if they made a killing; for me it’s an investment for the future and the country.

“Moreover, as a Catalonian I would like to say that we saw many large banks with a long history here, decamp after the independence referendum in 2017. This really shocked all of us. To have a community bank like 11Onze, of which we are founding shareholders, gives me the confidence that it’s here for us and it will stay here for us, for our society and its business fabric.”

11Onze founder James Sène says being digital will not compromise its ambition to offer a personal service.

James Sene

“When banks became digitised, they inevitably became distanced from their customers. Customers are often served by bots or strangers on the end of a phone line. 11Onze brings the local bank experience into a digital world,” he says. “Every customer will be connected to a dedicated 11Onze member whom they know by name and background. It’s not merely about going digital, it’s also about keeping it local and intimate.”

James Sène, Founder of 11Onze a Finextra

You can read the original news in English on Finextra aquí

 

THE FINTECH TIMES describes 11Onze Banc as the first digital community bank in Catalonia in the news published on 9 March 2021

James-Sene

It highlights the vision of James Sène, Founding Chairman of 11Onze: “11Onze is a digital community bank based in Catalonia focused on serving and empowering local people”.

James Sène, Founding President of 11Onze

11Onze – the first digital community bank in Catalonia – gears up towards its launch with over 148 private investors already becoming founding shareholders as demand increases daily.

What is unique about 11Onze banc is that it is created to shift the balance of power from the few to the many. In an age where knowledge is power, it aims to share intelligence and know-how with its customers to help them control their financial future. It’s a bank largely owned by the Catalan people, serving its locals to build stronger communities – all with cutting edge innovation at its fingertips. It’s revolutionary on several fronts – from being the first bank ever to offer a private social network to its customers and provide a marketplace to do business with each other.

 

Investor’s impressions

 

“I am proud to be a founding shareholder”, says Jordi Roset, co-owner of the Petrolis Independents fuel chain, a franchise of Petro7, a brand of the Petrolis Roset S.L. “11Onze will be the bank for SMEs and ordinary people. I see it as an investment into our future. I am hoping my children and my grandchildren will be doing business with this bank! I am not investing in the bank like those shareholders who are all day looking at the stock market to see if they made a killing; for me, it’s an investment for the future and the country.”

“Moreover, as a Catalonian I would like to say that we saw many large banks with a long history here, decamp after the independence referendum in 2017. This really shocked all of us. To have a community bank like 11Onze, of which we are founding shareholders, gives me the confidence that it’s here for us and it will stay here for us, for our society and its business fabric.”

“I see it as a bank that listens to people, regardless of their ideology,” reveals shareholder investor Mercè Comas, entrepreneur, who had run Moto Auto Juni for more than 25 years. “I like the fact that it will be a bank to support personal and business projects, any project that is viable will have our support. This will be a true revolution in the sector.”

 

Founder’s view

 

“Our founding shareholders are people who share our vision,” confirms 11Onze founder James Sène “11Onze is a Catalonia-based digital community bank focused on serving and empowering the local people. I believe it is revolutionary “not only” in its vision but also in execution. We go beyond the normal challenger banks by using a digital platform for banking, offering a private social network and a marketplace to its customers to interact, engage and take control of their finance. We also aim to educate our customers on how to make the most of their savings and investments.”

Being digital will not compromise 11Onze from being personal, Sène adds. “When banks became digitised, they inevitably became distanced from their customers. Customers are often served by bots or strangers on the end of a phone line. 11Onze brings the local bank experience into a digital world. Every customer will be connected to a dedicated 11Onze member whom they know by name and background. It’s not merely about going digital, it’s also about keeping it local and intimate.”

This week, international media, independent and leaders in Fintech, picked up the news of the launch of the La Plaça, which officially came to light on April 22 at 10 p.m.

 

What is La Plaça?

As stated by James Sène, Chairman of 11Onze, in the fintech publication Finextra
“A new category of social network with the latest advances from Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Linkedin, in a Netflix format… made in Catalonia.”

In the video, a summary of the news.

Here you can read the news originally published in English.

EL MÓN Diari INTERVIEW with Jordi Roset, one of the 148 founding members of the financial institution | “We need a bank that does not work for the establishment and the Spanish Deep State”, remarks the Terrassa businessman

 

As a country, we need an iconic bank. All first world countries have their benchmark. We had them in Catalonia, but we have already seen that after the 1-O of 2017, the largest banks with a long history decided to move their banks located in Catalonia under pressure from the state and the monarch. We need a bank that works authentically for the country, for its society and its business industries. I hope the Generalitat takes the step of creating a central bank, but at least, in the meantime, we need a central private bank that promotes the reconstruction of the country in all areas.

Read the entire interview in EL MÓN newspaper by Jordi Roset here

Why did you decide to invest in 11Onze?

The main reason is that, due to past circumstances, Catalonia does not have an entirely Catalan bank. After the independence process in 2017, larger banks with a long history decided to move their headquarters located in Catalonia as a result of political and state pressure. I think that does not say much about a bank that is really committed to our country, it can not be that at the slightest change they decide to leave everything and leave. This is precisely where the need arises to have a 100% Catalan bank and also believe in the possibilities of your country.

 

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