Banxico and CNBV expand fee consultation

Update August 31, 2026: Banxico and the CNBV have broadened the scope of their proposal, and the public consultation now also seeks to update the regulatory framework for card payment networks and clearinghouses. UNIFIMEX added that the initiative aims to set maximum limits and gradual reductions for interchange fees on card terminals and card payments.

Banxico and the CNBV have put out for public review the draft General Provisions Applicable to Payment Instrument Networks, a proposal that would limit the fees banks and card issuers receive each time customers make a purchase. Introduced in August 2026, the initiative opens a new comment period through September 24, 2026.

What changes in interchange fees?

The draft lowers the cut originally proposed for card interchange fees. In its latest version, it sets caps of 1.30% for credit cards and 1.00% for debit cards, along with a gradual reduction path.

According to El Economista’s coverage, the measure is intended to reduce card payment costs, encourage merchant acceptance and strengthen interoperability requirements among networks, issuers and acquirers. Banxico and the CNBV frame the consultation under the General Provisions Applicable to Payment Instrument Networks.

UNIFIMEX echoed that the proposal sets maximum limits and gradual reductions for interchange fees on card terminals and card payments. The industry outlet also said the consultation seeks to update the rules for card payment networks and clearinghouses and promote the acceptance and efficiency of card payments in Mexico.

What deadline did the authorities set for comments?

The public consultation on the draft accepts comments from the general public through September 24, 2026, via the portal of the Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency. The new review period also reflects the fact that the initial 2025 draft drew industry criticism.

That earlier round led to calls for deeper technical and impact analysis, according to the coverage cited. The process became part of a broader debate over the economics of payment networks and the regulatory impact on banks, issuers and merchants.

Where does this fit in the financial regulatory agenda?

The card consultation aligns with a broader regulatory line from Banxico, the CNBV and the Finance Ministry, focused on internal controls, corporate governance, cybersecurity and risk-based supervision. At a public event on Mexico’s voluntary financial system, a Finance Ministry official stressed the need to strengthen those controls and said the CNBV remains committed to ongoing dialogue with the sector.

That same trend appears in other recent coverage. The CNBV has stepped up oversight of fintechs and neobanks, especially those operating as Electronic Payment Funds Institutions, with a focus on consumer protection and financial stability. The regulator has also reiterated that it will maintain risk-based supervision of currency exchange houses and money transmitters to prevent transactions involving illicit funds.

What do fintechs and IFPEs have to comply with?

IFPEs operate under Mexico’s Fintech Law and are subject to joint oversight by the CNBV and Banxico, with obligations covering fund safekeeping, operational risk management, cybersecurity and custody of resources. According to Alvos.mx’s analysis, user money must be held in trusts or segregated bank accounts.

The same analysis said IFPEs and SOFIPOs are regulated and supervised by the CNBV, although they do not have deposit insurance equivalent to IPAB. Economy Total, for its part, explained that the CNBV authorizes and supervises banks, broker-dealers, fund operators, IFPEs and crowdfunding institutions, and that the digital applications are developed by those entities, not by the apps themselves.

What operational risks accompany this debate?

The focus on control and supervision comes amid cybersecurity incidents that have already affected the financial system and public infrastructure. La Jornada Estado de México reported that in 2024 a cyberattack caused losses of 161.99 million pesos at a banking institution, with cumulative damage of nearly 483 million pesos in the period considered.

Infobae also documented a connectivity failure that made portals such as the CNBV, Condusef and IPAB inaccessible, exposing cybersecurity and business continuity vulnerabilities in critical platforms. At the same time, the CNBV continues risk-based supervision of currency exchange houses and money transmitters, with an emphasis on AML/CFT and the integrity of the financial system.