CIBanco's liquidation stalls amid $7.2M claims and legal battles

CIBanco’s liquidation process is moving forward, though it faces multiple legal and financial hurdles. The bank, which began winding down in October 2025, has already returned 4.051 billion pesos to 89% of its clients. Yet creditors continue to press claims totalling over 1.8517 billion pesos and $7.2 million.

The bank’s troubles started after severe reputational damage tied to alleged transactions involving organised crime. By October 2025, regulators ordered its liquidation. Since then, CIBanco has worked to settle obligations, paying out roughly $230 million to most of its customers.

Legal battles have complicated the process. The Institute for the Protection of Bank Savings (IPAB) filed 11 *amparo* lawsuits by March 31, 2026, challenging court-ordered freezes on CIBanco’s accounts. Among the largest disputes is a 613.9 million-peso claim from Continental Automotive Mexicana. Óscar Manuel Herrejón Caballero also has a pending Supreme Court case involving 800 million pesos, while Hersuma Asesores is seeking 47 million pesos. Another dispute involves Tecnologías Relacionadas con Energía y Servicios Especializados (TRESE), which is demanding 148.6 million pesos and $7.2 million. Meanwhile, CIBanco is negotiating with U.S. authorities to ease restrictions on its subsidiaries. On April 13, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) relaxed some constraints on the bank’s U.S. operations, potentially speeding up the liquidation. The bank remains focused on modifying FinCEN’s remaining rules to allow the sale of flagged subsidiaries.

Despite progress, CIBanco’s liquidation still faces delays from ongoing lawsuits and creditor demands. The bank has returned billions to clients but must resolve claims worth billions more. Regulatory adjustments and legal outcomes will determine how quickly the process concludes.