Over 200 responses to a recent survey asking how clients have been affected by U.S. sanctions against Mexican banks CIBanco, Intercam, and the brokerage firm Vector have been received. The Treasury Department accused these institutions of laundering drug cartel money, prompting restrictions that will officially take effect mid-July — but many clients are already feeling the impact.
Though few have closed their accounts, many Intercam and CIBanco clients report major disruptions. Some can’t transfer money between the US, Canada, and Mexico. Daily withdrawal limits have been imposed, and some clients have been unable to access their funds altogether. A CIBanco client said transfers are “in limbo,” and questioned why Mexican authorities acted before the US order was in force.
Intercam is especially popular among expats. Pauline Duffy, building a home in Baja California Sur, fears she won’t be able to pay her contractor. Others in similar situations said they’re scrambling to find new banks that will accept wire transfers or US checks. One reader in Puerto Vallarta said their property purchase was stalled due to the inability to transfer funds.
According to the survey, 75% of respondents are Intercam clients. Of those, 48% are keeping their accounts, 41% are considering closing them, and 10% have already decided to leave. Among CIBanco clients, 62% are considering leaving.
Despite the uncertainty, many respondents expressed strong support for Intercam. They praised its customer service and stressed there is no proven wrongdoing. Some are opening secondary accounts at banks like Banorte, but hope to return to Intercam once the issue is resolved.
Others are simply waiting to see how the situation unfolds, though anxiety remains high — especially for those who rely on cross-border transfers to cover daily living expenses or large payments.