In the first quarter of 2025, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway took decisive action to further reshape its banking exposure, signaling a growing discomfort with ongoing risks in the financial sector. According to the company's latest 13F filing, three major bank holdings were either exited or trimmed, highlighting a broader shift in portfolio strategy.
1. Nu Holdings
One of the more symbolic exits came with the complete divestiture of Nu Holdings, a Brazilian fintech that once held promise as a high-growth disruptor. Berkshire originally backed the company during its 2021 Series G funding round and added to that position in subsequent months. Yet the tide turned when Nu Holdings launched its crypto services platform—an area that Buffett has consistently expressed disdain for. While the stock itself may have appreciated in value, Buffett's philosophical aversion to cryptocurrency-linked models likely outweighed any potential upside. The decision to fully unwind the position suggests not only disinterest in fintech volatility, but also a deeper unease with speculative digital finance as a pillar of modern banking.
2. Citigroup
Buffett also pulled the plug on his entire stake in Citigroup, a bank that has been mired in both reputational and operational issues for over a decade. While Citigroup has attempted to modernize and reorganize under CEO Jane Fraser, the progress has been slow and frequently interrupted by regulatory setbacks. From billion-dollar fines to IT failures, the pattern of dysfunction appears too entrenched to ignore. Even recent efforts to revamp internal systems haven't been enough to restore investor confidence. For Berkshire, the Citigroup sale looks less like a tactical shift and more like an acknowledgment that some legacy banks remain structurally fragile despite ambitious leadership reforms.
3. Bank of America
Interestingly, while Berkshire reduced its stake in Bank of America, it didn't exit entirely—perhaps reflecting a more nuanced perspective on the company's long-term viability. The sale of 48.66 million shares—over 7% of Berkshire's holding—suggests concern, but not a wholesale loss of faith. Still, Bank of America has been dealing with public-facing technological issues, including widespread account access failures that have triggered customer distrust. Regulators have also pressured the bank to address compliance issues related to sanctions and suspicious activity monitoring. By reducing exposure, Buffett appears to be hedging: maintaining a foothold in a storied institution while decreasing overall sensitivity
Not Just About the Numbers
Berkshire's selling spree isn't simply a reaction to declining margins or short-term earnings volatility. The common thread across Nu Holdings, Citigroup, and Bank of America is persistent exposure to either technological liabilities, regulatory headaches, or strategic misalignment with Berkshire's investment ethos. Buffett has always favored businesses with clear models, consistent leadership, and predictable long-term cash flows. In a world where banks are increasingly becoming software and compliance companies, that clarity is harder to find.
A Broader Shift, Not an Abandonment
It would be premature to call this a full exit from financials, especially considering that Berkshire still holds a massive stake in Bank of America and has kept positions in other financial institutions. However, the intensity of these Q1 moves suggests that Buffett sees the risk-reward calculus shifting—particularly for banks caught in the middle of digital transformation, regulatory scrutiny, and reputational repair. It's also worth noting that other sectors, such as consumer goods and infrastructure, are receiving more attention from Berkshire's capital deployment. These rebalances may reflect a broader thesis about the types of companies better suited to weather volatile macro cycles.
The Road Ahead for Berkshire
As Berkshire Hathaway continues to fine-tune its portfolio, attention will turn to where that freed-up capital is being allocated. So far, consumer-facing companies and tech-adjacent plays seem to be gaining favor. Yet the enduring takeaway from this banking selloff is that Buffett still prizes clarity over complexity, and in today's rapidly evolving financial landscape, too many banks are failing that test. Whether other institutional investors follow suit remains to be seen—but for now, Berkshire's Q1 playbook is a clear vote of caution in a sector once viewed as a bedrock of American capitalism.
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