What is a SPEI connection?
A SPEI connection is the technical and operational link between a financial institution and Banxico’s Sistema de Pagos Electrónicos Interbancarios, allowing it to send and receive real-time peso transfers, 24×7. Connecting involves far more than a communication channel: it requires digital certificates, cryptographic signing of every message, real-time settlement and reconciliation, regulatory reporting and drilled contingency modes.
Requirements to connect to SPEI
Participation status
Be a participant authorized by Banxico (bank, brokerage house, SOFIPO, IFPE, among others) or connect through an existing participant.
Native-protocol connectivity
Encrypted sessions against Banxico's infrastructure, handling the scheme's complete message catalogue.
Certificates and digital signature
Valid institutional certificates, secure private-key custody and cryptographic signing of every message sent and received.
Settlement and reconciliation
Real-time balance projection, acknowledgement handling, CEP issuance and reconciliation against the core banking system.
COA, POA and ASA contingency
The three alternate-operation modes implemented, documented and rehearsed in drills with auditable evidence.
Regulatory reporting
Reports in the format and cadence the regulator requires, with immutable logs and per-transaction traceability.
The stages of the process
| Stage | What happens | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Scope and architecture | Participation status, channels and core-banking integration are defined. | Approved design and work plan. |
| 2. Build and sandbox | Connectivity is built and tested against a scheme simulator, without touching production. | Complete payment flows validated end to end. |
| 3. Certification testing | Tests against Banxico's certification environment, including contingency scenarios. | Certification approved. |
| 4. Production cutover | Controlled cutover, with a communication plan and a defined rollback. | First live payment and start of 24×7 operation. |
The mistakes that delay certification the most
- Underestimating contingency: COA, POA and ASA are left for last and block certification
- Testing against production instead of a scheme simulator
- Certificate custody and key rotation handled manually
- Reconciliation designed after go-live instead of from day one
- Regulatory reporting as an add-on rather than part of the platform
How InterPago solves it
InterPago delivers the SPEI connection as a finished product: native-protocol connectivity, signing and key custody, settlement, reconciliation, reporting and the three contingency modes, tested against our own multi-bank simulator before certification. A typical integration reaches production in about 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
What do you need to connect to SPEI?
An institution needs to be an authorized participant (or connect through one), connectivity infrastructure speaking Banxico's protocol over encrypted sessions, institutional digital certificates, settlement, reconciliation and regulatory-reporting capabilities, and the three contingency modes (COA, POA and ASA) implemented and drilled.
Who can be a SPEI participant?
Banks, brokerage houses, SOFIPOs, SOCAPs, electronic payment fund institutions (IFPEs) and other regulated financial entities that meet Banxico's requirements. Institutions that do not participate directly can operate through an existing participant.
How long does SPEI certification take?
It depends on the institution's starting point: building the connectivity, testing against Banxico's certification environment and running contingency drills set the pace. With a platform already built and tested against a scheme simulator, an InterPago integration reaches production in about 90 days.
What is Banxico's Circular 14/2017?
It is the Banxico circular that contains the SPEI rulebook: participant obligations, operational and continuity requirements, operating windows and contingency schemes. Every SPEI integration must comply with it.
See the details in our SPEI service, review the COA, POA and ASA contingency modes or request a free assessment.