Banif Financial Group was a Portuguese international financial services group associated with Banco Internacional do Funchal. The company had a presence in Europe, South America, North America, Africa and Asia. In 2015, it was bailed-out by the Portuguese state and sold to Santander Group.
History
Banif was founded and incorporated by Horácio Roque[2] on 15 January 1988 and took over all of the assets and liabilities of the defunct Caixa Económica do Funchal. In 1995, it opened offices in Caracas, Venezuela and South Africa; in 1996 in São Paulo, Brazil; and in 2008 in San Ġiljan, Malta.
On 15 January 2008, the bank rebranded, adopting a centaur as its symbol, a "symbol of strength and intelligence", the usage of indigo as a brand color, with its own "strength and personality", as well as being easy to recognize, and the slogan A força de acreditar (the power of believing) in order to boost support for the bank. A total of €20 million was invested in the campaign.[3]