New rules (Circular 10/2026) from Banco de México (Banxico) aim to make SPEI transfers easier and more consistent across banking apps. Instead of sharing your 18-digit CLABE, you’ll be able to receive transfers using your cellphone number, provided you’ve linked it to an eligible Mexican bank account. Banks have until December 14, 2026, to comply with the new requirements. Linking your number is optional, and your CLABE will still work as usual.
The measure does not mean that the telephone number replaces the Standardized Bank Code (CLABE) or the account or card number , but rather that it is an alternative identifier to carry out the operations.
This means that a person can share their linked phone number to receive funds . According to Samantha Beltrán, a specialist in regulatory compliance and financial system risks , this translates to less friction and fewer errors when making a transfer.
What are the risks of linking your phone number?
While using a cell phone as an identifier can facilitate transfers, it also poses security challenges. Phone numbers are not permanent: a person can lose or change their line, and the number can be reassigned to another user.
“A cell phone number can be an account identifier , but it’s not a permanent identifier ,” Beltrán pointed out. If an account’s association isn’t updated with these changes, there’s a risk that a transfer could be sent to the wrong person.
Therefore, the specialist considered it important that financial institutions implement procedures to update and verify that a number still corresponds to the registered person and account. “Simplifying the user experience does not necessarily reduce the need for controls,” Beltrán cautioned.
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