Key Takeaways
Focus of this article
This article is about Banamex Priority and the main current account known as MiCuenta, explaining how its rental plans, commissions and security advice work.
Rental plans and fees
Banamex offers structured rental plans for MiCuenta that can reduce or eliminate account management commissions when specific conditions are met, such as receiving payroll in the account, making digital monetary transactions, and limiting the number of cash withdrawals at Banamex automated teller machines.
Balance-based cost control
A second way to avoid fees is by maintaining a defined minimum combined balance across MiCuenta, a linked savings product and a time deposit, with a clearly explained method to calculate that combined figure over the monthly statement period.
Everyday security warnings
The information warns that messages trying to generate fear, threats or exaggerated urgency are a classic sign of fraud, and that genuine financial institutions do not ask for personal identification numbers, one-time codes, passwords or full card and client numbers through calls, messages or links.
Digital tools and protections
The material highlights how the Banamex app, online banking, and security tools such as NetKey and NetKey Movil support safer operations, including digital payments through the CoDi system and coverage of deposits by the Mexican deposit insurance agency up to a stated limit.
Promotion and brands
Alongside fees and security, there is a consumer promotion tied to a well-known cosmetics brand, offering a fixed discount on qualifying online purchases when payment is made with the Banamex debit card linked to MiCuenta and a promotional code is used before the promotion expiry date.
Story & Details
A clear warning about stressful messages
The starting point is a simple warning that applies to any customer: communications that try to make the reader nervous, threatened or rushed into acting immediately are almost always a sign of fraud. The text explains that this tactic is commonly used by criminals who want the person to click on links, confirm supposed irregular transactions or move money urgently. The reminder is direct and memorable, setting the tone for everything that follows.
From there, the information moves to reassure the reader that calm, clear rules exist for how the account works and how to avoid unnecessary fees. It frames the product as something designed to reward regular, predictable use rather than impulsive reactions to alarming messages.
First rental plan: activity and withdrawals
The first rental plan focuses on how everyday account use can reduce the monthly commission for managing MiCuenta, with the possibility of paying nothing at all under the right conditions.
The cost is stated as zero when the account is used in one of two ways. The first is by receiving payroll into MiCuenta; the second is by making at least one monetary transaction from MiCuenta through the Banamex app or through online banking, combined with up to four cash withdrawals at Banamex automated teller machines within a monthly period.
If the customer makes up to four withdrawals at Banamex automated teller machines but does not make a qualifying monetary transaction in the app or online, the monthly cost rises to fifty pesos. The same charge applies if the number of withdrawals is between five and eight, regardless of whether there was digital activity. Once the number of withdrawals passes nine or more in the month, the cost rises to seventy pesos. The message here is clear: fewer cash withdrawals and more use of digital channels are rewarded with lower costs.
Second rental plan: integral balance and a higher penalty fee
The second rental plan also offers a way to pay nothing, but it does so by encouraging a stable combined balance instead of focusing on transaction frequency.
Under this structure, the cost is zero when payroll is received in MiCuenta or when the customer keeps an “integral balance” of at least four thousand pesos, calculated as the combined result of three products: MiCuenta, a savings product called Ahorro Fácil, and a time deposit called Pagaré.
The information explains how this integral balance is calculated. Daily balances for MiCuenta and Ahorro Fácil are recorded for every day between statement dates and then averaged across the period. To that average, the balance of the time deposit on the Friday before the MiCuenta statement date is added. If this combined result is below the required minimum, a penalty commission of one hundred sixty-five pesos is applied for that period.
The structure encourages customers to see their current account, savings and time deposits as a single financial ecosystem rather than isolated pockets of money.
What counts as a monetary transaction
Because the first rental plan depends on making at least one monetary transaction through the app or online banking, the information spells out exactly what qualifies during a monthly statement period.
Transfers to other accounts at Banamex count, as do transfers to accounts at other banks. Transfers made through the CoDi digital payment system count, whether they are interbank transfers or between two Banamex current accounts. Money moved between a customer’s own Banamex accounts, payments of services such as utility bills, payments of taxes and payments to Banamex credit cards are also considered. All of these operations must originate from MiCuenta and be carried out via the Banamex app or online banking in order to be recognised.
This clarification aims to avoid confusion and to ensure that customers understand that not every action counts, but that a broad set of digital money movements does.
Payroll continuity and freedom to choose a bank
One of the footnotes addresses what happens when payroll income stops arriving in the account. If no payroll deposits are received for three consecutive months, the rental plan conditions based on payroll no longer apply, and the account is charged according to the contracted fee structure.
At the same time, the explanation emphasises that customers have rights when an employer decides to change the bank used for payroll. A person can choose to keep their Banamex account and request that the bank receiving the employer’s deposits transfer those funds to Banamex at no cost. It also notes that salary, pensions and other benefits can be redirected into Banamex by visiting a branch, and that customers who already have a Banamex debit card may complete the process through the app or online banking.
The message reinforces that the customer is not tied to their employer’s choice for everyday banking and can actively choose how and where to manage incoming money.
The cosmetics promotion and how it works
In parallel with the hard numbers, the communication offers a promotional hook with a recognisable international brand in beauty and skincare. Customers using MiCuenta receive a discount of four hundred pesos on purchases starting at two thousand pesos when they shop on the brand’s Mexican website and enter a specific promotional code at checkout.
The promotion is time-limited and is explicitly valid until the nineteenth of December in the stated year. It applies only to Banamex debit cards, excludes sets and new product launches, and cannot be combined with other offers. A customer-service telephone number is provided for questions or clarifications, with office hours running from Monday to Friday in the daytime. The text also notes that the discount is funded by the cosmetics company, not by the bank.
Visually, the promotion is supported by scenes of cosmetics and the brand’s logo, connecting the abstract idea of “a discount” to concrete products that many readers will recognise from retail counters and online stores.
Security messages: what criminals ask for and why
The information then returns to the theme of fraud prevention with a motto that can be paraphrased as “together against fraud.” It explains that criminals often pretend to be bank employees and may call, message or contact the customer under that pretense. The goal is to extract sensitive data, and the text names specific items that must never be shared.
Those items include the personal identification number for cards, codes delivered by text message, access keys, passwords and full client or card numbers. The warning is absolute: if anyone asks for these details, it must be treated as an attempt at fraud. The emphasis is on complete non-disclosure, regardless of how convincing the caller or message may seem.
The same spirit extends to digital channels. The material reminds readers that the bank does not ask them to update personal data or security information through unsolicited messages and that legitimate changes are handled through official channels rather than links in messages that arrive unexpectedly.
Digital tools: app, NetKey, CoDi and online payments
Digital security tools are presented as everyday allies. The Banamex app is framed as the central hub for checking balances, making transfers, paying services and managing cards, including quickly blocking them in case of loss or theft.
NetKey is described as a security mechanism that generates dynamic codes to authorise operations in the app and in online banking. NetKey Movil places this functionality directly on the mobile device through the app, avoiding the need to carry a separate physical token. These one-time codes are required for sensitive operations, adding a layer of protection if someone gains access to a password but not to the device.
CoDi, the digital payment system operated by the central bank, appears as an integrated feature within the Banamex app. The information notes that using CoDi for sending or receiving money in the app requires NetKey or NetKey Movil, linking the convenience of instant transfers to the same robust security measures.
The text also touches on bill payment: many services and government contributions can be paid through the bank’s digital channels, with a third-party provider handling processing. In some cases, it may take up to twenty-four hours for a payment to be fully reflected, a delay that customers are encouraged to keep in mind.
Deposit protection and institutional responsibility
Deposit protection is another theme of reassurance. The communication states that deposit and investment accounts with Banamex are guaranteed by the Mexican deposit insurance agency, known as IPAB, up to four hundred thousand investment units per person and per bank. This coverage applies to guaranteed products and is funded by the fees paid by member banks, not by direct contributions from customers.
The material clarifies that the quality, content and possible changes to products, services, events and platforms promoted in partnership with the bank are the responsibility of the provider. This caveat is especially relevant for promotions such as the cosmetics discount, where the partner controls stock, delivery and specific terms of use.
Trademarks are acknowledged in a compact way, with references to the ownership of names and logos for social networks, payment systems and security tools, reinforcing that each brand is used under appropriate legal terms.
Legal fine print and corporate identity
The closing portion contains the kind of legal and corporate details that anchor the information in a specific institution. It identifies Banco Nacional de México, part of Grupo Financiero Banamex, as the sender, with a corporate address in central Mexico City. It points readers to a section of the bank’s website where they can find the full requirements for opening accounts, the schedule of commissions and the conditions for use of the products.
There is also a prominent notice explaining that the financial institution does not request personal data or updates through the channel used in this communication, directing readers instead to the bank’s official website for more advice on security and spam. An internal piece identifier is included for internal tracking, and there is a clear way to unsubscribe from promotional messages.
Together, these details remind the reader that behind the practical tips and offers there is a large, regulated institution, with responsibilities and obligations that can be verified through public channels.
Conclusions
Bringing the threads together
Seen as a whole, the information paints a picture of a product that rewards stable, predictable use and disciplined digital habits. Banamex Priority and MiCuenta are presented not only as ways to receive income and make payments, but also as tools that can be tuned to reduce monthly costs when the customer understands the rental plans and the concept of an integral balance.
At the same time, the message never loses sight of security. It constantly returns to the idea that real financial protection comes from two sides: robust institutional tools such as NetKey, the app and deposit insurance, and the daily vigilance of customers who refuse to share sensitive data, treat urgent messages with suspicion and keep their interactions with the bank within official channels.
The promotion with the cosmetics brand adds an immediate, tangible benefit for those who engage with the product, but it is presented as an extra, not a substitute for long-term habits. In the end, what stands out is the combination of clear fee structures, practical digital tools and straightforward advice on fraud, offering customers a roadmap for using their account with confidence and control.
Sources
Official information and educational materials on digital security, deposit protection and the tools mentioned in this article can be consulted at the following public, freely accessible links:
Citibanamex Security Center
https://www.banamex.com/centro-de-seguridad/index.html
Citibanamex App and digital banking overview
https://www.banamex.com/es/personas/banca-digital/app-banamex.html
NetKey and NetKey Movil description
https://www.banamex.com/es/centro-de-ayuda/servicios-digitales/app-banamex/netkey.htm
Mexican deposit insurance agency (IPAB) information for savers
https://www.gob.mx/ipab/acciones-y-programas/preguntas-frecuentes-ahorradores
Financial education on deposit insurance at IPAB
https://www.ipab.org.mx/transparencia-ipab/apertura-gubernamental/educacion-financiera-en-el-ipab
Mexican financial consumer-protection authority alert on phishing involving Citibanamex
https://www.gob.mx/condusef/prensa/emite-condusef-nueva-alerta-por-caso-de-phishing-de-citibanamex
Article on protecting Banamex customers from fraud attempts
https://lasillarota.com/hidalgo/vida/2022/9/26/tienes-cuenta-en-banamex-protegete-de-fraudes-394428.html
Official information on the cosmetics brand’s offers in Mexico
https://www.clinique.com.mx/offers
Educational video on avoiding digital fraud from the Mexican financial consumer-protection authority
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtaJ_mo5npU
Appendix
App Banamex
The Banamex mobile application that allows customers to check balances, make transfers, pay services and manage cards from a smartphone, including blocking a card quickly in case of loss or theft.
Ahorro Fácil
A savings product linked to MiCuenta that forms part of the integral balance used in one of the rental plans; its daily balance over the statement period is included in the combined calculation.
Banamex Priority
A branded service level associated with higher-value customers, framed in the information as the context for MiCuenta, rental plans, tailored benefits and heightened attention to digital security.
CoDi
The central bank’s digital payment system integrated into the Banamex app so that customers can send and receive money directly from their accounts, with operations authorised by NetKey or NetKey Movil.
Integral balance
The combined figure used in the second rental plan, calculated by averaging the daily balances of MiCuenta and Ahorro Fácil over the statement cycle and then adding the Pagaré balance recorded on the Friday before the MiCuenta statement date.
IPAB
The deposit insurance agency in Mexico that guarantees eligible deposits and certain investment products at Banamex and other banks up to four hundred thousand investment units per person and per institution.
MiCuenta
The main Banamex current account highlighted in the information, which can receive payroll, be used for digital payments and transfers, and qualify for reduced or zero rental plan commissions when certain conditions are met.
Monetary transaction
Any qualifying movement of money from MiCuenta through digital channels, including transfers to other accounts, CoDi payments, bill payments, tax payments and credit card payments carried out in the Banamex app or online banking.
NetKey
A security mechanism that generates dynamic one-time codes required for authorising sensitive operations in the Banamex app and online banking, helping ensure that even if a password is compromised, an attacker cannot complete key transactions.
NetKey Movil
The mobile version of NetKey integrated into the Banamex app, which allows the customer’s phone itself to generate the one-time codes needed to confirm transactions without carrying a separate physical device.
Pagaré
A time deposit product that forms part of the integral balance; its balance on the Friday before the MiCuenta statement date is added to the average balances of the current and savings accounts to determine whether the minimum required amount is met.
Rental plan
The fee model applied to MiCuenta, under which the monthly commission can be zero, moderate or higher depending on the customer’s payroll deposits, number of cash withdrawals and use of digital monetary transactions.
Security message
The set of warnings included in the information that describe the behaviour of fraudsters, list the specific data that must never be shared and remind customers that the bank does not ask for sensitive updates through unexpected calls or messages.
Service provider
Any external company that delivers products or services promoted in partnership with the bank, such as the cosmetics company behind the featured discount; these providers are responsible for the quality and fulfilment of their offers.
SMS code
A short, time-limited code sent by text message that can be used to confirm certain actions; the information stresses that these codes must never be shared with anyone claiming to be from the bank.
Time deposit
A deposit with a fixed term and conditions, represented in this context by Pagaré, which offers interest in exchange for leaving money in place until maturity and contributes to the customer’s integral balance.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 