What is a CLABE?
A CLABE (Clave Bancaria Estandarizada) is the 18 digit standardized account number that every Mexican bank account carries for interbank transfers, including SPEI payments and wires from abroad. Mexico uses the CLABE where Europe uses the IBAN. Example (invented, for illustration only): 012 180 00123456789 9, where 012 is the bank code, 180 the city or region, 00123456789 the account and 9 the check digit.
- A CLABE has 18 digits: 3 for the bank, 3 for the city or region, 11 for the account and 1 check digit that validates the others.
- BBVA México tells customers to always give the CLABE to receive international transfers, because Mexico does not use the IBAN format or US ABA routing numbers.
- SPEI, Banco de México's peso transfer system, identifies the payee's account by its CLABE.
- A valid check digit proves the number is well formed, not who owns the account, so new CLABEs should be confirmed with the supplier by a second channel.
How a CLABE works
Every Mexican bank account that can receive a transfer carries a CLABE. The CLABE packs the bank, the location and the account into one number, with a final digit that catches typing errors.
The fixed structure is what makes the CLABE useful to a payer abroad. A foreign bank does not need to know how each Mexican bank numbers its accounts internally: it sends the 18 digits, and the Mexican bank decodes them.
| Digits | Part | In the example 012180001234567899 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Bank code | 012 |
| 4 to 6 | City or region (plaza) | 180 |
| 7 to 17 | Account number | 00123456789 |
| 18 | Check digit | 9 |
Sources: BBVA México, CLABE and international transfers pages; the example number is invented. As published on 29 October 2026.
The check digit is calculated from the first 17 digits. Each digit is multiplied by 3, 7 or 1 in turn, and the last digit of each product is added up. The check digit is ten minus the last digit of that sum, with a result of ten written as zero. In the invented example the products add up to 51, so the check digit is 9. Our CLABE validator runs the same calculation.
Where a business meets a CLABE
A foreign company meets the CLABE on two sides of trade with Mexico. When it pays a Mexican supplier, the supplier's CLABE goes in the account field of the wire, with the bank's SWIFT code. When a Mexican company invoices a US buyer, it gives its CLABE and SWIFT code so the buyer's bank can send the wire; BBVA México tells its customers to always give the CLABE for international transfers.
Inside Mexico, the CLABE is all a payer needs for a peso payment over SPEI. Take it from the supplier's CFDI electronic invoice or a signed bank letter rather than from an email.
Dollar accounts in Mexico have a CLABE too. A Mexican company's US dollar account receives wires from abroad quoting its CLABE, and dollar transfers between dollar accounts inside Mexico run on SPID, Banco de México's separate system for US dollars, from 8:00 to 14:15.
Common mistakes with a CLABE
- Using another number instead of the CLABE. Card numbers and the account number a bank shows in its own app are not the CLABE. Use the 18 digit number.
- Not checking the bank code. The first three digits should match the bank the supplier named. A mismatch is a warning sign of an error or of fraud.
- Trusting a valid check digit. It only proves the number is well formed. Confirm a new CLABE by phone with a contact you already know.
- Expecting an IBAN or routing number. Mexico uses neither. If a form insists on an IBAN, put the CLABE in the account field and the SWIFT code in the bank field.
Related terms and how Helm handles it
The CLABE is Mexico's version of the IBAN: a standard account number for transfers between banks. A wire from abroad also needs the bank's SWIFT code. Our guide to paying suppliers in Mexico lists the full details a payment needs.
Helm pays suppliers by SWIFT and by local rails where available, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before you send; the account manager confirms the route for each currency.
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USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
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How many digits is a CLABE?
18. The first 3 identify the bank, the next 3 the city or region, the next 11 the account, and the last is a check digit.
Is a CLABE the same as an account number?
No. The CLABE is the standardized interbank number. Each account also has a shorter internal account number that does not route transfers between banks.
Do I need a CLABE to send a wire to Mexico?
Yes. Mexican banks ask foreign senders to use the CLABE because Mexico does not use IBAN numbers or US routing numbers. The wire also needs the bank's SWIFT code.
How do I check a CLABE?
Multiply the first 17 digits by 3, 7 and 1 in turn, add the last digit of each product, and subtract the last digit of the sum from ten. The result should match the 18th digit.
Does a valid CLABE prove who owns the account?
No. It only proves the number is well formed. Confirm the beneficiary name with the supplier by a second channel before the first payment.
References
- BBVA México: Número de cuenta y CLABE interbancaria
- BBVA México: Transferencias internacionales para empresas
- Banco de México: SPEI, Sistema de Pagos Electrónicos Interbancarios
- Banco de México: SPID, Sistema de Pagos Interbancarios en Dólares
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.