Given the evaluation process of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to Mexico, the Union of Mexican Financial Institutions (Unifimex) defined its union priorities when presenting its 2026 Strategic Plan during the first session of its Council of the year.
The agenda focuses on technical coordination, prevention of regulatory risks and institutional dialogue on financial matters.
The roadmap was presented during the organization’s first Council session of the year, in a context in which the Mexican financial system faces greater regulatory demands, both nationally and internationally, derived from the evaluation process of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), as well as the increase in risks associated with sanctions and “de-risking” practices, understood as the reduction or cancellation of financial relationships by institutions to limit their exposure to regulatory, legal or reputational risks.
The fifth round of FATF evaluation on Mexico began in June 2025 and is expected to conclude in October 2026, when the final rating will be announced and the aspects that require strengthening in terms of prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing will be identified.
This evaluation will review compliance with the 40 FATF recommendations, with an emphasis on the effectiveness of the implemented measures, that is, not only in the existence of laws and regulations, but in their practical application and concrete results, which implies analyzing investigations, sanctions and institutional coordination to face threats to financial integrity.
The plan seeks to establish a common technical agenda for its members, aimed at identifying regulatory risks, generating empirical evidence and formulating regulatory proposals applicable to the functioning of the financial system.
The organization seeks to position itself as a union space for coordination between institutions with operations in segments such as credit, payments, remittances and financial infrastructure.
New partners
During the session, the Assembly approved the incorporation of Actinver, Bancoppel and Fundación Dondé as new partners, expanding the organization’s representation base in banking, financial intermediation, inclusion and social development. Unifimex pointed out that the adhesion of these groups strengthens the organization’s union vision by integrating different operational perspectives within the Mexican financial system.
Likewise, the Council endorsed the appointment of José Antonio Quesada Palacios, president of the National College of Independent Professional Business Directors (CNCPIE), as Commissioner of the organization.
According to what was reported, the appointment aims to strengthen the internal control, supervision and corporate governance mechanisms, in line with the institutional strengthening proposed in the Strategic Plan.
Among the actions contemplated for 2026 are the installation of technical committees, the development of financial integrity guides in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank, the organization of an international meeting on PLD, an institutional agenda in Washington and the beginning of efforts to incorporate Unifimex into the Joint Room of the T-MEC, with a technical focus.
With this agenda, Unifimex reported that it will continue to participate, from a union and technical perspective, in the discussion on the regulatory framework and the operation of the Mexican financial system.
The organization seeks to articulate common technical positions before regulatory authorities and international organizations, as well as contribute to the analysis and discussion of public policies related to the financial sector.
