The code inside a CLABE
A CLABE has 18 digits, and the first three are the bank's code. Banxico assigns that code as part of the standard that identifies each institution within SPEI.
It's the same number SPEI uses, without the «40» or «90» prefix that marks the type of institution: BBVA is 40012 in SPEI's catalog, and 012 at the start of a CLABE.
| Bank | Code inside the CLABE |
|---|---|
| BBVA | 012 |
| Santander | 014 |
| Banorte | 072 |
| HSBC | 021 |
| Banamex (Citibanamex) | 002 |
| Banco Azteca | 127 |
| BanCoppel | 137 |
| Scotiabank | 044 |
| STP | 646 |
| Mercado Pago | 722 |
| Nu | 638 |
| Spin by OXXO | 728 |
The last digits aren't enough
The last digits of an account or a card identify your own number within the bank, not the institution: the code sits at the start, never at the end.
ImportantA bank statement or a masked receipt almost always shows only those last digits: to know the bank, you need the first ones.
A card's BIN
The first digits of a card make up the BIN, the bank identification number: they identify the payment network and, within it, the bank that issued it. It's the same principle as the CLABE, applied to a different number.
That bank-by-BIN catalog isn't published by a single source: payment networks and processors maintain it. With the first six to eight digits, you can look up the issuer in a BIN directory.
NoteThe first digit already narrows down the payment network, per the ISO/IEC 7812 standard. Every card from a bank that participates in SPEI has 16 digits, without exception: not even Amex, at 15, participates.
Where to find the full list
The bank directory lists the 97 institutions that take part in SPEI, with their code and aliases.
Looking up a specific BIN has a public endpoint, with no account or API key required.
With VerikoWith Veriko, the bank resolves on its own from the CLABE or the card you register: no need to look up the code in the directory or copy it by hand.
How Veriko does it
Veriko reads the bank straight from the CLABE or the card you upload or register, and looks up the CEP with Banxico to give you a verdict in about 10 seconds, without you looking up the code by hand.
The difference is the effort per account. On the Banxico site you type in six exact details, including the sending and receiving bank, and solve a security image, one lookup at a time. With Veriko the bank resolves on its own and the rest of the details are read from the photo.
| What you need | By hand on the Banxico site | With Veriko |
|---|---|---|
| Data | Six exact details and a security image | The photo of the receipt, or the typed details |
| Hours | 9:30 to 23:00 | Any time, with automatic retries if Banxico doesn't respond |
| Volume | One transfer per lookup | Hundreds of payments in a file, or by API |
| Result | The CEP's PDF or XML | The verdict with date, amount and banks, and the CEP saved |
| Record | None: you keep it yourself | History, reports and alerts in your panel |
If you spend time looking up the bank for every account or card before validating a payment, that step disappears. There's a free plan that never expires to try it, and the pricing page compares the paid plans.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which bank a CLABE belongs to?
The first three digits of the CLABE identify the bank; the rest is your account number within that institution. The bank directory has the full catalog, with all 97 codes.
How do I know which bank a card belongs to?
By its BIN: the first six to eight digits identify the payment network and, within it, the issuing bank. That catalog isn't published by a single unified source; it's looked up with a BIN directory.
Which bank is code 012?
Code 012 is BBVA México, per Banxico's current catalog of SPEI institutions. It's the same bank that appears as 40012 in the five-digit code SPEI uses.
Do the last digits of an account say which bank it is?
No. The bank code sits at the start of a CLABE or a card; the last digits only tell your number apart within that institution.
Are the last four digits of a card enough?
No: the last digits never identify the issuing bank. You need the first six to eight, the card's BIN.
Where can I see the full bank catalog?
In the bank directory on the portal, with the 97 institutions that participate in SPEI and their aliases. It's updated weekly from Banxico's official catalog.
Can a card's bank be looked up by API?
Yes: there's a public endpoint that resolves the bank from the BIN, with no API key required. Just send the first six to eight digits, never the full card number.