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Directo a México® Frequently Asked Questions

Federal Reserve Financial Services is committed to providing the answers and information you need. Answers to many of our customers most frequently asked questions can be found using the links below.

If your question is not answered by the information provided on the site, Contact provides a comprehensive list of service and support contacts who can assist you.

Directo a México Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

  1. What is the relationship between Directo a México and the Federal Reserve Banks' FedGlobal Mexico Service?

    The Directo a México marketing program was introduced in Fall 2005 to help U.S. financial institutions create awareness for and facilitate use of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) channel to remit funds to Mexico. Specifically, its goal is to encourage use of the Federal Reserve Banks' FedGlobal Mexico Service. The Directo a México marketing materials are provided to all U.S. financial institutions that subscribe to the FedGlobal Mexico Service.

  2. How does Directo a México benefit U.S. financial institutions and their customers?

    Directo a México helps U.S. financial institutions capture a larger part of the rapidly growing U.S. to Mexico remittance market. The program also supports customers by providing a secure, fast, low-cost and convenient money transfer product for financial institutions to offer to their customers. The service that supports Directo a México, FedGlobal Mexico Service, is priced so that U.S. financial institutions can offer it at extremely competitive rates. The service is offered to financial institutions for a low per-item surcharge.

    The wholesale foreign exchange rate applied to every payment – regardless of amount – means that the receiver gets more pesos for every dollar sent. Additionally, the funds are available in the receiving account in Mexico on the next banking day.

  3. What are the components of Directo a México?

    Promotional Tool Kit – Customizable, Spanish-language electronic templates for a brochure, poster, lobby/tent card, statement insert, foreign exchange information sheet and text for a 30-second radio spot.

    Customer Guide – Information and ideas regarding remittance to Mexico along with help determining local market potential.

  4. What topics are covered in the Directo a México Customer Guide?

    The Directo a México Customer Guide provides the following:

    • Information on the U.S. to Mexico remittance market
    • Tools and Web addresses to help financial institutions determine their local market potential
    • Information on providing banking services to the Mexican community in the U.S.
    • Detailed tips for easily and economically marketing Directo a México

  5. What is the FedGlobal Mexico Service?

    The FedGlobal Mexico Service is offered as part of the Federal Reserve Banks' suite of FedACH® services. Depository financial institutions in the U.S. originate cross-border transactions via FedACH in U.S. dollars. Payments are transferred from FedACH to the Banco de México, the Mexican gateway operator, where they are distributed via the local payments system. Payments are posted to the receiver's account in pesos on the next banking day – with every payment receiving a wholesale foreign exchange rate regardless of amount.

  6. What is ACH?

    ACH stands for Automated Clearing House. The ACH network is a highly reliable and efficient nationwide batch-oriented electronic funds transfer system governed by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) ACH Operating Rules and Guidelines, which provide for the interbank clearing of electronic payments for participating depository financial institutions. The Federal Reserve Banks are the nation's largest ACH operator and provide central clearing facilities through which financial institutions transmit or receive ACH entries. ACH payments include:

    • Direct deposit of payroll, Social Security and other government benefits, and tax refunds
    • Direct payment of consumer bills such as mortgages, loans, utility bills and insurance premiums
    • Business-to-business payments
    • E-checks
    • E-commerce payments
    • Federal, state and local tax payments
    • Cross-border payments (both commercial and person-to-person remittances)

  7. Why is using the ACH network a good way to send money to Mexico?

    ACH is an extremely, low-cost payments channel and is already in place in almost every financial institution in the U.S. Thus, there are no set-up costs for most financial institutions that choose to offer the program. ACH also uses standardized formats, which make it possible for the payments to be channeled to Mexico in an automated fashion and delivered electronically to bank accounts there. The efficiencies of ACH make it possible to offer this service to financial institutions at a low, per-item surcharge.

  8. What is a remittance?

    Money transfers, or remittances, are person-to-person payments generally to family members living in an individual's country of origin. Remittances are a large and growing global phenomenon. However, several important characteristics of the U.S. to Mexico remittance market make it an attractive business consideration for financial institutions. The amount of funds transferred into Mexico is the second largest in the world – only India receives more remittance funds. It is notable that almost all remittances to Mexico originate in one country – the U.S. – and are growing at a very fast annual rate.

  9. How can I learn more about Directo a México and the Federal Reserve Banks' FedGlobal Mexico Service?

    To learn more about Directo a México and the Federal Reserve Banks' FedGlobal Mexico Service Offerings, or contact your account executive.

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