> At a Glance
> – Mexico’s Finabien reloadable debit card lets users move up to $2,500 a day or $10,000 a month for a flat $2.99 fee
> – Transfers run from a U.S.-linked account, so cash-style remittance tax does not apply
> – Cards are issued free at Mexican consulates; demand has risen since the January 1 levy began
> – Why it matters: Senders keep more money in the family budget without breaking rules
A 1% tax on cash, money-order and cashier-check remittances to Mexico took effect January 1, but a little-known debit card offered by Mexico’s public development bank gives U.S.-based senders a legal workaround.
How the Finabien Card Works
The Finabien product is not a bank account-just a reloadable Visa debit card tied to a single account. Each customer receives two cards: one kept in the United States for loading funds, the second mailed to a trusted recipient in Mexico.
- Daily cap: $2,500 USD
- Monthly cap: $10,000 USD
- Flat cost per load: $2.99 USD
Because money moves within your own account, Mexican authorities classify it as a personal transfer, not a taxable remittance.
Getting the Card
Visit any Mexican consulate; no appointment needed. Bring:
- Official ID (INE, consular matrícula or passport)
- Active email address
Staff in San José currently process 80-100 cards a month, a number that has climbed since the tax launch.
Mexican consul Hugo Juárez Carrillo explained:
> “We provide people with two cards-one for use here in the United States and another to send to a trusted person in Mexico-so that both cards are linked to the same account.”
Recipient can shop or withdraw cash in Mexico; balances earn no interest.
Key Takeaways
- The Finabien card legally sidesteps the 1% Mexican remittance tax
- Total cost is $2.99 per load regardless of amount within limits
- Cards are issued on the spot at consulates with basic ID
- Rising demand shows senders are switching methods to preserve cash
Families looking to stretch every dollar across the border now have a simple plastic alternative to traditional-and newly taxed-money transfers.
