Banking

Mexico’s banking system has enjoyed two decades of growth and stability. Operating with comparatively high capital reserve levels, Mexico has a stable and profitable banking system. In the period from 2010 to 2014, the financial system as a whole grew at an average annual rate of 10%. As of March 2015 total assets in the commercial banking system stood at $541.8bn, with 45 active banks. The industry has a high level of concentration: the top six banks controlled 58.7% of total assets and 60.2% of the total loan portfolio. Recent adjustments to the regulatory framework, such as the 2014 banking reform, can be seen as fine-tuning an essentially robust industry framework. However, banking penetration remains low and financial exclusion indicators are comparatively high, with more than half the population not having a bank account.

This chapter features an interview with José Marcos Ramírez, CEO, Grupo Financiero Banorte.