National Banking and Securities Commission of Mexico (CNBV)

Basic Information

The National Banking and Securities Commission of Mexico (Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores, CNBV) is the primary regulatory authority overseeing Mexico’s financial sector. Established in 1924 and headquartered at Insurgentes Sur No. 1991, Col. Guadalupe Inn, Mexico City, the CNBV operates under the Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP). Its official website, cnbv.gob.mx, provides regulatory guidelines, statistics, and updates, though content is primarily available in Spanish. The agency ensures the stability of Mexico’s financial system by supervising banks, securities markets, fintech firms, and other financial entities.

Historical Background

The CNBV traces its origins to the late 19th century, when Mexico’s financial system began formalizing oversight mechanisms. Key milestones include:

• 1879: Introduction of the Ley General de Instituciones de Crédito, granting the SHCP oversight of credit institutions.
• 1924: Establishment of the National Banking Commission (CNB), the CNBV’s predecessor, as an independent banking regulator.
• 1946: Creation of the National Securities Commission (CNV) to oversee securities markets, later merged into the CNBV.
• 1995: Reorganization into the CNBV, consolidating banking and securities oversight under a single agency.

Legal Authority & Regulatory Framework

The CNBV derives its authority from multiple federal laws, including:

• Banking Law (Ley de Instituciones de Crédito): Governs credit institutions, capital requirements, and risk management.
• Securities Market Law (Ley del Mercado de Valores): Regulates public offerings, stock exchanges, and investor protections.
• Fintech Law (2018): Provides a framework for digital financial services, including crowdfunding and electronic payment institutions.

The agency enforces compliance with international standards such as Basel III for capital adequacy and FATF guidelines for anti-money laundering (AML).

Key Responsibilities & Scope

The CNBV’s mandate spans:

• Prudential Supervision: Monitoring capital adequacy, liquidity ratios, and risk management practices of banks and financial groups.
• Market Conduct: Ensuring transparency in securities offerings, preventing market manipulation, and protecting investors.
• Fintech Oversight: Authorizing and supervising electronic payment funds institutions (EPIs) and crowdfunding platforms.
• Anti-Fraud Measures: Implementing regulations to combat financial fraud, including mandatory transaction limits and two-factor authentication.

Contact Information

• Address: Insurgentes Sur No. 1991, Col. Guadalupe Inn, C.P. 01020, Mexico City.
• Phone: +52 (55) 7246-0000
• Fax: +52 (55) 7246-0000
• Email: Available via the contact form on cnbv.gob.mx.

Verification of Regulated Entities

To confirm whether a financial institution is CNBV-regulated:

1. Visit the CNBV’s Registry of Supervised Entities (Padrón de Entidades Supervisadas) on its official website.
2. Search by entity name, registration number, or activity type.
3. Cross-check authorization status for banks, brokers, fintech firms, and insurers.