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LATAM Payments MX

CLABE

Also known as: Clave Bancaria Estandarizada

Definition

CLABE (Clave Bancaria Estandarizada) is the 18-digit number that uniquely identifies a bank account in Mexico. It's used to receive SPEI transfers and automatic payments.

LATAM context

Every Mexican bank account has a unique CLABE. The first 3 digits identify the bank (012=BBVA, 014=Santander, 002=Banamex, 072=Banorte, etc.), the next 3 the branch, the following 11 are the account number, and the last is a check digit, validated with a checksum algorithm.

Concrete example

CLABE 012180001234567890: 012=BBVA, 180=Mexico City clearing zone, 0012345678=account number, 90=check digit.

How it shows up on your bank statement

Your own account's CLABE usually sits in the statement header, next to the account number and the holder's name. Counterparties' CLABEs appear inside each SPEI transaction, identifying who you sent money to or received it from. Watch out: some banks mask the middle digits of your own CLABE in the PDF for security.

How does finO$ handle this?

finO$ extracts and validates the CLABE for every account and every counterparty in SPEI transfers, catching misscanned CLABEs by their check digit.

Related terms

SPEI CEP

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Frequently asked questions about CLABE

How many digits does a CLABE have and how is it structured?

18 digits: three identify the bank, three the branch, eleven the account, and the last is a check digit calculated from the ones before it. That last digit lets you catch a mistyped number before you send money to it.

Is the CLABE the same as my account number?

No. The account number is internal to the bank; the CLABE is the standardized identifier used for transfers between banks. A single account can have both a short internal number and a distinct 18-digit CLABE.

Can I tell which bank a CLABE belongs to?

Yes, from the first three digits, which correspond to the institution. Handy when you're reviewing a statement and don't recognize the sender of a transfer.