Brian Barnes (entrepreneur)
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Brian Barnes | |
|---|---|
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| Born | March 6, 1989 |
| Alma mater | Stanford University |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder and CEO of M1 Finance |
| Website | www |
Brian Barnes (born 1989) is an American entrepreneur and the founder of M1 Finance, a financial technology company based in Chicago, Illinois. He has been featured in national business publications for his role in the development and expansion of financial technology services.[1][2]
Early life and education
Barnes grew up in the Chicago metropolitan area and earned a degree in economics from Stanford University.[3][4]
Career
Barnes worked in finance before founding M1 Finance in 2015.[5][6] Coverage in Forbes highlights M1 Finance’s expansion from automated investing into cash management and lending services as part of its broader product strategy.[7] Reporting by the Chicago Business Journal notes significant increases in assets under management and service offerings during Barnes’s tenure.[8] In discussing M1 Finance’s Series D funding, Barnes described the company’s mission to “empower people to improve their financial well-being” by combining investing, borrowing, and cash management tools.[9]
Bank acquisition
In 2021, Barnes purchased the First National Bank of Buhl in Minnesota. The acquisition allowed M1 Finance to expand into banking-as-a-service, integrating traditional bank operations into its fintech platform. Observers noted that the move reflects a broader trend among fintech firms seeking to provide a full spectrum of financial services.[10][11]
Public profile
Barnes has been featured in national business outlets including Forbes, Barron’s, Fortune, and the Chicago Business Journal, where his role in the fintech industry and M1 Finance’s growth has been covered in the context of broader market developments.[12][6][13] In 2022, he was included in Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40” list of notable Chicago business leaders.[3]
References
- ↑ "He Built a Personal Finance App That Manages $8 Billion for Half a Million Customers. Here Is the CEO of M1's Hard-Earned Advice for Future Founders". Entrepreneur. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ↑ "M1 Finance funding pushes valuation to $1.4 billion". Investment News. July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 “40 Under 40, the Class of 2022”. Crain's Chicago Business. November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ↑ "He Built a Personal Finance App That Manages $8 Billion for Half a Million Customers. Here Is the CEO of M1's Hard-Earned Advice for Future Founders". Entrepreneur. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ↑ "M1 Finance funding pushes valuation to $1.4 billion". Investment News. July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Brian Barnes: Big Talk, and Big Results, at M1 Finance". Barron's. July 17, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Investing App M1 Doubles Assets In Six Months, Reaching $2 Billion". Forbes. September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ↑ "Investing app M1 hits $2B in assets". Chicago Business Journal. September 9, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ↑ "Automated Money Management Platform M1 Finance Scores $75 Million Through Series D Funding Round Led By Coatue". Crowdfund Insider. March 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ↑ "M1 Finance CEO buys First National Bank of Buhl". FinTech Futures. December 12, 2025. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ↑ "M1 Finance's CEO Buys Tiny Minnesota Bank in Latest Expansion". Fortune. October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
- ↑ "CEOs Changing The Way We Invest, Trade, And Manage Our Money During COVID-19". Forbes. April 22, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
- ↑ "Investing app M1 hits $2B in assets". Chicago Business Journal. September 9, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
External links
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