Overview
- The Supreme Court Pleno ruled on June 24, 2026 that judges nationwide must examine oficio whether interest rates in debt-collection lawsuits are usurious and revoked two prior decisions for re‑evaluation.
- Judges must weigh factors such as the Costo Anual Total (CAT), market conditions at contracting, the loan amount and term, guarantees, the legal nature of the deal, and the parties’ quality when deciding if rates are abusive.
- The court said the protection against usury applies with equal force to companies and successions as it does to individuals and confirmed that bank rates have only an initial presumption of validity that judges must test and may reduce if found abusive.
- The ruling arose from two executive mercantile cases by a bank against a Coahuila company and the succession of one of its shareholders, and the SCJN sent both files to tribunales colegiados for new, exhaustive valuations.
- Practically, the decision could prompt more judicial challenges to high rates, lead courts to adjust claimed interest in enforcement actions, and push lenders to change pricing or contract terms to avoid successful usury claims.