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Mexico’s Digital Banking Race Quickens as Openbank Surpasses 500,000 Customers

Bank leaders say mobile apps plus AI will pull more Mexicans into formal finance in 2026.

Overview

  • Openbank’s Mexico chief projects 2026 as the peak year for onboarding into the formal financial system via digital banking.
  • Openbank closed 2025 with just over half a million customers and plans to broaden its product lineup toward late 2026, drawing on Santander’s scale and AI.
  • Banorte positions itself as a digital bank with branches after selling its 100% digital unit Bineo to Klar’s subsidiary, a deal cleared by the antitrust body and still pending SHCP and CNBV approval.
  • Nu secured CNBV approval for a banking license and reports service coverage in 98% of municipalities through its fully digital model.
  • Executives from Banorte, Klar and Nu highlight digitalization to cut Mexico’s heavy cash use and expand inclusion ahead of the 89th Banking Convention this month.