Compare banks for foreigners: fees and English support
What each bank publishes about account fees, minimum balance, ATM charges and service in English — checked on 2026-10-17, last updated 2026-10-27.
BBVA México
Largest branch & ATM network
- Type
- Traditional bank
- As a foreigner
- Residency card required (app or branch)
- English support
- Not published
Scotiabank México
The big bank most open to non-residents
- Type
- Traditional bank
- As a foreigner
- Visitors (up to 180 days) and residents, at bilingual branches
- English support
- Yes — 30 bilingual branches + English phone option
Nu México
No fee to open, no Nu fee at ATMs
- Type
- Digital bank
- As a foreigner
- Temporary or permanent residency + RFC
- English support
- Not published
Wise
Moving money in at the mid-market rate
- Type
- Multi-currency account
- As a foreigner
- Open from your home country
- English support
- Yes
This site may earn a commission for purchases made through recommended links. Requirements change by branch and visa status — always confirm directly.
Fees and English support, bank by bank
Taken only from each bank's own pages. "Not published" means the page does not say it — ask the branch or look the product up in Banxico's fee registry.
| Bank / product | Opening deposit | Monthly account fee | Minimum balance | ATM withdrawals | English support | Tourist (FMM)? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBVA México Libretón Básico Cuenta Digital BBVA fact sheet (Sep 2026) | Not published in the fact sheet | MXN 0 with up to 4 card cash withdrawals a month (cardless withdrawals don't count); MXN 38 for 5–8 and MXN 62 for 9 or more, plus VAT | None — no monthly average balance to keep | BBVA ATMs: no per-withdrawal fee, card withdrawals count toward the monthly fee; balance checks free. Other banks' ATMs: the owner's fee, shown on screen. Abroad: set by the ATM owner | Not published | No — residency card |
| Banamex Cuenta Base banamex.com | Not published | No account fee ("sin comisión") | No penalty for falling below the minimum average balance ("sin comisión", checked 2026-10-24) | Not published | Not published | No — must live in Mexico |
| Santander México LikeU Pro santander.com.mx | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Not published | No — residency (FM2) |
| HSBC México Producto Básico General HSBC fee schedule (Dec 2025) | None required | Account opening and maintenance listed as free | MXN 60 to keep the account open | Free at HSBC ATMs (up to MXN 9,500 a day); MXN 0 from HSBC at ATMs abroad (owner may charge) | No — Spanish-only page | Yes — FMM accepted |
| Scotiabank México Scotia Account (foreigners) scotiabank.com.mx | Not published | "Without any fees" for the account benefits | Not published | Free or "preferential" at national alliance ATMs; no commission at Global ATM Alliance ATMs abroad | Yes — 30 bilingual branches; phone 55 5728 1900, option 9; English web page | Yes — visitors up to 180 days |
| Banorte Debit accounts banorte.com | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Nu México Cuenta Nu blog.nu.com.mx | No fee to open | Not charged per Nu | Not published | No Nu fee; the ATM owner may add its own charge, shown before you confirm | Not published | No — residency + RFC |
| Wise Multi-currency account wise.com/pricing | Opened online from abroad | See wise.com/pricing | None published | See wise.com/pricing | Yes | Not a Mexican bank account |
- BBVA México: Fact sheet issued 2026-09-07, checked 2026-10-27: the monthly "administración-renta" fee (MXN 62) depends on how many cash withdrawals you make with the card (the product page shows MXN 34 instead of 38 for 5–8 withdrawals; we quote the fact sheet). Card replacement for theft or loss MXN 169.50, card delivery to your home MXN 155, SPEI transfer at a branch MXN 112 (free in the app). Physical card pick-up at any branch at no cost.
- Banamex: Basic account (article 48 Bis of the banking law): no account fee and no minimum-balance penalty.
- Santander México: The product page could not be checked on our review date; look up its fees in Banxico's RECO.
- HSBC México: Fee schedule checked 2026-10-24: no monthly fee, no minimum-balance penalty, card replacement and international transfers free.
- Scotiabank México: The branch table on the same page lists 32 branches; confirm the nearest bilingual one.
- Banorte: Passport is accepted only paired with a second ID (professional licence or driving licence).
- Nu México: App-only; no branches.
- Wise: Converts at the mid-market rate with the fee shown before you send.
How to read this comparison
Need English? Scotiabank is the only big bank here that publishes it: bilingual branches and an English phone option. Everywhere else, plan on Spanish at the branch and in the app.
Want the lowest fixed cost? HSBC's Producto Básico General and the Cuenta Nu publish zero opening and maintenance charges; Nu needs residency and an RFC, HSBC accepts a tourist FMM. Banamex's Cuenta Base also lists no account fee and no minimum-balance penalty, but you must live in Mexico.
Using other banks' ATMs? The ATM owner sets that charge and must show it on screen before you confirm. Our guide on how to avoid ATM fees in Mexico covers the workarounds.
Documents and visa rules for each bank are in requirements by bank. Once the account is open, check your 18-digit CLABE with the CLABE validator, and compare ways to bring money in with the cheapest way to move money to Mexico.
Checking official fees yourself
Banks must register every fee with the Banco de México. Search by bank and product in the Registro de Comisiones (RECO), and ask the branch for the product's "Anexo de Comisiones" before you sign. Complaints go to CONDUSEF.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mexican bank has English-speaking support?
Scotiabank is the only large bank in our comparison that publishes English support: a page in English for foreigners, 30 bilingual branches and an English option on its phone line (55 5728 1900, option 9). BBVA, Banamex, Santander, HSBC, Banorte and Nu do not publish English service on the product pages we checked.
Which bank account in Mexico has the lowest fees for a foreigner?
On their own pages, HSBC Producto Básico General needs no opening deposit, lists opening and maintenance as free and only requires MXN 60 to stay open; Nu charges no fee to open and no Nu fee at ATMs but needs residency and an RFC; Banamex Cuenta Base lists no account fee and no penalty for falling below the minimum average balance.
Is Intercam still a good bank for expats?
In June 2025 the US Treasury (FinCEN) named Intercam, CIBanco and Vector as primary money laundering concerns and Mexico's CNBV temporarily took over their management. Intercam's banking assets, branches and clients were later sold to Kapital Bank, so we no longer list Intercam as a separate option.
Where can I check a Mexican bank's official fees?
Every bank must register its fees with the Banco de México in the Registro de Comisiones (RECO), and publish a fee annex ("Anexo de Comisiones") for each product. CONDUSEF, the financial-consumer agency, handles complaints.
Can I open a Mexican bank account on a tourist permit?
Among the large banks, HSBC accepts the Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) for its Producto Básico General and Scotiabank opens accounts for visitors staying up to 180 days at bilingual branches. The others ask for a residency card.
Fees change and some are applied branch by branch. We summarize what each bank publishes; confirm with the bank before you open an account. We are not affiliated with any of these banks.
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