July 03, 2026
On July 1, 2026, the National Banking and Securities Commission (National Banking and Securities Commission, «CNBV«) published in the Federal Official Gazette (Official Journal of the Federation, «DOF«) the resolution amending the General provisions applicable to credit institutions (the «General Provisions,» or, alternatively, the «CUB«) with respect to the verification of users’ identity in in-person banking transactions (the «Resolution«), which entered into force on July 2, 2026.
The CUB previously provided only for fingerprint identification as the biometric verification method for in-person transactions carried out at credit institutions, without contemplating facial biometrics as an additional safeguard to provide greater certainty, security, and reliability to authentication processes.
To strengthen such verification measures, the Resolution amends various articles of the CUB relating to user identification and the performance of in-person transactions, and replaces its Exhibit 71 («Anexo 71«), to:
- incorporate facial biometrics as a biometric verification method for in-person transactions, in addition to fingerprint identification; and
- add the applicable technical requirements that credit institutions must observe for the proper implementation thereof.
Information obtained through facial biometrics, like fingerprint data, must be used exclusively for identity authentication purposes. Its use is subject to online verification, which must yield a minimum match of 90% against the records of the National Electoral Institute (Instituto Nacional Electoral), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), the Tax Administration Service (Tax Administration Service), or other competent authorities.
The prohibition on the commercialization, sale, or transfer of databases containing users’ biometric information, whether between credit institutions or to third parties, remains in place.
As a practical matter, the reform expands the scope of biometric authentication applicable to in-person transactions by requiring credit institutions to implement facial biometrics as a verification mechanism for in-person transactions under the CUB.
The attorneys of the Banking and Finance practice group remain available to address any questions regarding the foregoing.
SINCERELY,
Pedro Said Nader
Mariana Campos Clasing
Carlos Keigo Chávez Kubota