Does the government want to be your exchange house?
From the National Palace, President Claudia Sheinbaum made a direct call this Monday. His message to the migrant community in the United States was clear: use the Financiera para el Bienestar (FinaBien) to send money home.
It wasn’t just a kind suggestion. It was a recommendation with numbers in hand and a veiled criticism of the competition.
“It is a very good example of why it is very important that they get their FinaBien card,” said Sheinbaum from the Treasury Room.
The president even accused that “some remittance companies pass by”, suggesting questionable practices in the private sector. But what is this promotion based on?
The numbers behind the call
Sheinbaum presented a compelling comparison. According to their figures, for a shipment of $400:
- FinaBien delivers 7,304.98 pesos to the recipient.
- Other companies, such as Ria Money Transfer, would only give 6,905 pesos.
The difference is almost 400 pesos for each operation. For families that depend on this money, it is not a minor detail.
The support did not end there. Iván Escalante, head of Profeco, came out to reinforce the official message.
He assured that Financiera para el Bienestar is “the best qualified remittance company” by the body that protects consumers.
The movement is significant. The federal government not only regulates the remittance market – one of the most vital economic flows for Mexico – but now openly competes in it with its own financial tool.
Economic or political strategy? For millions of families, the urgent question is which option gives them the most bang for their buck. Today, from Los Pinos, the official response points in one direction.




