Introduction to Unifimex and its Relevance
Unifimex, the Union of Mexican Financial Institutions, has outlined its strategic priorities in preparation for the upcoming evaluation by the Group of Action Financial International (GAFI). This move comes as Mexico’s financial system faces heightened regulatory demands both domestically and internationally, stemming from the GAFI evaluation process and increased risks associated with sanctions and “de-risking” practices.
GAFI Evaluation Background
The GAFI’s fifth round of evaluation for Mexico began in June 2025 and is expected to conclude in October 2026. The evaluation will assess Mexico’s compliance with the GAFI’s 40 recommendations, focusing on the effectiveness of implemented measures rather than just the existence of laws and regulations. This entails examining investigations, sanctions, and institutional coordination to tackle threats to financial integrity.
Unifimex’s Strategic Plan
Unifimex’s strategic plan aims to establish a common technical agenda for its members, focusing on identifying regulatory risks, generating empirical evidence, and formulating applicable normative proposals for the functioning of the Mexican financial system.
- Key Objectives: The plan seeks to foster coordination among institutions operating in credit, payments, remittances, and financial infrastructure segments.
- New Members: Unifimex welcomed Actinver, Bancoppel, and Fundación Dondé as new members, broadening its representation in banking, financial intermediation, inclusion, and social development.
- Leadership: José Antonio Quesada Palacios, President of the Colegio Nacional de Consejeros Profesionales Independientes de Empresa (CNCPIE), was appointed as the organization’s Commissioner to strengthen internal control, supervision, and corporate governance mechanisms.
Planned Activities for 2026
Unifimex’s agenda for 2026 includes establishing technical committees, developing financial integrity guidelines in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank, organizing an international PLD (Probable Loss Day) meeting, scheduling an institutional agenda in Washington, and initiating efforts to join the Technical Room of the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) with a technical focus.
Unifimex’s Role in Regulatory Discussions
With this agenda, Unifimex intends to continue participating in regulatory framework and Mexican financial system operation discussions from a gremial and technical perspective. The organization aims to articulate common technical positions towards regulatory authorities and international organizations while contributing to the analysis and discussion of public policies related to the financial sector.
