October 15, 2025
On October 10, 2025, the Institute for the Protection of Bank Savings (Instituto para la Protección al Ahorro Bancario, “IPAB”) officially announced the start of the liquidation process of CIBanco, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple (“CIBanco”), following the revocation of its authorization to act as a banking institution, which was published in the Federal Official Gazette (Diario Oficial de la Federación) on October 13, 2025. Such revocation was previously approved unanimously by the Governing Board of the National Banking and Securities Commission (Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores, “CNBV”) during its session held on October 9, 2025, pursuant to the Law of Credit Institutions (Ley de Instituciones de Crédito).
CIBanco’s license was revoked following its own request submitted before the CNBV on October 8, 2025. On October 13, 2025, after reviewing the petition and obtaining favorable opinions from the Bank of Mexico (Banco de México) and the IPAB, the CNBV’s Governing Board unanimously approved the request, authorizing the bank’s liquidation and instructing the IPAB to begin payments of guaranteed obligations under the Law of Credit Institutions.
Background of the Revocation
On June 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), identified CIBanco, Intercam Banco, and Vector Casa de Bolsa as financial institutions potentially involved in money laundering-related activities. In response, the CNBV exercised its supervisory authority, placing these institutions under direct administrative intervention while allowing them to continue normal operations. FinCEN granted the entities until October 20, 2025, to strengthen their anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks, implement corrective measures, and submit comprehensive compliance reports. The agency warned that failure to comply could lead to further sanctions or operational restrictions.
Beginning of the Liquidation Process
Acting as CIBanco’s liquidator, the IPAB confirmed that all branches would close on October 10, 2025, retaining only a limited number of offices to assist customers and process payments of guaranteed obligations. Payments began on October 13, 2025, based on the bank’s automated records—no action is required from customers—and covered deposits, loans, and approved credit lines.
Effects on Clients and Outstanding Loans
According to the IPAB, CIBanco’s borrowers must continue making their loan payments. To facilitate this process, the agency has enabled telephone and online assistance channels, as well as a limited number of branches for certain in-person transactions. Depositors remain protected under Mexico’s deposit insurance framework, which covers up to 400,000 Investment Units (approximately MXN$3.4 million or USD$183,000) per individual. This protection applies within the legal coverage limits but does not preclude customers from pursuing additional legal remedies to recover any remaining amounts.
CIBanco’s liquidation represents a significant event in Mexico’s financial system, highlighting the government’s active enforcement of the supervisory and resolution mechanisms established under the Law of Credit Institutions. The process—overseen by the CNBV and the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público) and executed by the IPAB—aims to ensure an orderly exit from the banking system while safeguarding depositors’ funds and rights.
The attorneys of our Banking and Finance Practice Group remain at your disposal for any further questions regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Pedro Said Nader
Mariana Campos Clasing
Carlos Keigo Chávez Kubota
Jerónimo Cordero Gutiérrez