Maximum Raises $30M Seed for AI-Native Banking OS

Maximum Raises $30M Seed for AI-Native Banking OS

Maximum, a Miami-based startup, has emerged from stealth with a $30 million seed round to build an AI-native operating system for banks. The round, led by CRV with participation from Pear VC, Restive, Plug and Play Ventures, and Anthemis, is described as one of the largest seed financings in fintech. Founder Randy Fernando, who previously sold Vault to Acorns and Power to Marqeta, is targeting the core infrastructure layer of banking, where over 70% of nearly 5,000 U.S. banks still run on legacy systems built in the last century.

The company's platform embeds AI at the foundational level rather than layering it onto existing infrastructure, enabling financial institutions to deploy custom AI agents for automating operational workflows, gaining real-time visibility into customer activity, and launching new financial products. Maximum also emphasizes enhanced security protocols to address AI-driven threats. The startup plans to use the funding to accelerate product development, expand engineering and operations, and support implementations across its growing base of community and regional banks.

For investors and builders, Maximum's approach signals a shift from AI as an add-on to AI as the core substrate of financial infrastructure. The company is betting that banks will prefer a modern, AI-native alternative over incremental upgrades to legacy systems. Early traction with larger community and regional banks suggests demand, but the challenge lies in replacing deeply entrenched core banking systems. Builders in fintech should watch whether Maximum can deliver on its promise of ultimate control and agentic capabilities while navigating regulatory and security requirements.