CIBanco's collapse deepens as liquidation battles drag on with billions at stake
CIBanco’s liquidation is moving forward after severe reputational damage linked to alleged ties with organised crime. The process began in October 2025, with the bank now facing multiple legal disputes and creditor claims totalling billions of pesos. Recent regulatory changes in the US could speed up the sale of its remaining subsidiaries.
The bank’s troubles started long before its collapse. By March 2026, Mexico’s Banking Savings Protection Institute (IPAB) had filed 11 amparo lawsuits to challenge court-ordered freezes on CIBanco’s accounts. These legal actions targeted precautionary measures and labour-related restrictions that complicated the liquidation.
Since then, the bank has reduced its branch network from 215 to 160 and cut its workforce from 2,460 to 1,704 employees. Despite these cuts, it has returned 4.051 billion pesos (around $230 million) to 89% of its clients as part of winding down operations. Legal battles continue to pile up. One of the largest claims comes from Continental Automotive Mexicana, which is pursuing 613.9 million pesos, though no seizure has been enforced on these funds yet. Hersuma Asesores is also seeking 47 million pesos, while Tecnologías Relacionadas con Energía y Servicios Especializados (TRESE) is locked in a dispute over 148.6 million pesos and an additional $7.2 million. Separately, Óscar Manuel Herrejón Caballero remains in a high-stakes conflict with the bank over 800 million pesos, a case now awaiting review by Mexico’s Supreme Court. On April 13, the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) eased restrictions on CIBanco’s American operations. The bank is now working to further adjust these rules, hoping to smooth the sale of subsidiaries previously flagged by US authorities. Even with this progress, total creditor claims have reached at least 1.8517 billion pesos and $7.2 million.
The liquidation of CIBanco remains tangled in legal and financial hurdles, though recent regulatory relief may help resolve some obstacles. With billions still owed and multiple lawsuits pending, the process will likely stretch on as the bank attempts to settle its remaining debts and sell off assets.
