What is SPEI contingency?
SPEI contingency is the set of alternate-operation modes Banxico requires of participants in Mexico’s interbank payment system so that critical payments keep flowing through a technology, communications or infrastructure failure. The three modes are COA, POA and ASA, and every participant must have them implemented, documented and rehearsed.
The three modes, compared
| Mode | What it is | When it applies | What it requires |
|---|---|---|---|
| COA Alternate Operation Client | Fallback application provided by Banxico to operate directly against SPEI. | Total failure of the participant's infrastructure. | Valid certificates, trained staff, tested activation procedures. |
| POA Alternate Operation Process | The participant's alternate-operation procedure for partial failures. | Degradation of the participant's own channels or components. | Documentation, periodic drills, auditable evidence of each exercise. |
| ASA Advanced Alternate System | A complete parallel system able to sustain operation through a major incident. | Prolonged or full-site incidents. | Mirrored infrastructure, controlled switchover, verified return to production. |
Instancia A and Instancia B: the baseline redundancy
Before the three alternate modes there is a layer of redundancy that usually gets overlooked in contingency conversations, because it is not a “mode” but the architecture of the connection itself.
| Instance | What it is | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Instancia A Primary | The main operating environment, sending and receiving peso transfers in real time on a continuous basis. | The participant's normal operation. |
| Instancia B Secondary | An environment separate from the primary instance, required by Banxico's Circular 13/2017. | Operational redundancy and support for the code-based collection scheme. |
The distinction matters when planning: Instancia B is an architectural requirement, not a contingency mode you activate. A participant can have COA, POA and ASA well documented and still raise a finding if the separation between instances is not correctly implemented.
Circular 1/2022 in turn amended Circular 14/2017 on SPEI ampliado and indirect participation. If your institution is evaluating how to connect, see direct or indirect participant.
What an audit actually checks
- All three modes implemented, with named owners
- Drills executed on schedule, with logs
- Certificates and keys mirrored to the contingency site
- Immutable evidence of every activation and return
- Switchover times measured, not estimated
How InterPago solves it
The InterPago platform implements all three contingency modes as part of the product: automatic channel failover in seconds, a scheme simulator for rehearsing drills without touching production, certificate mirroring to the backup site, and an immutable audit ledger that produces the evidence regulators ask for. Recovery objectives are drilled in real exercises, with a zero-loss design for confirmed payments.
See the details on our contingency service, review the SPEI connection requirements or request a demo.
Frequently asked questions
What is COA in SPEI?
COA (Cliente de Operación Alterna) is the fallback application Banxico provides so SPEI participants can keep sending and receiving payments when their own infrastructure fails. It runs with reduced capabilities and requires trained staff and valid certificates to activate.
What is POA in SPEI?
POA (Proceso de Operación Alterna) is the procedure through which a participant operates in alternate mode during a partial failure, keeping critical payments moving while normal operation is restored. It must be documented, rehearsed in drills, and backed by auditable evidence.
What is ASA in SPEI?
ASA (the advanced alternate system) is the most complete level of alternate operation: a parallel system able to sustain the participant's operation through a major incident, with controlled switchover and verified return to primary operation.
Does Banxico require SPEI contingency drills?
Yes. Participants must rehearse their alternate-operation modes in scheduled drills and keep evidence of every exercise. A contingency mode that is never drilled is, in practice, treated as nonexistent in an audit.