Cuenca
Mexican mobile-first account.
- Who holds it
- The company itself — it holds a full banking licence — IFPE license (CNBV, Mexico, 2021) under Ley Fintech.
- The ledger
- The bank’s own core ledger.
- If it fails
- A covered-deposit payout through the local scheme, up to its limit.
Derived from Cuenca’s regulation type and custody — a class of protection, not a guarantee. Limits and eligibility vary by scheme, balance and jurisdiction; confirm before you rely on it. What happens if a neobank shuts down →
The facts
| Category | traditional |
| HQ | Mexico City, MX |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | Licensed bank |
| License detail | IFPE license (CNBV, Mexico, 2021) under Ley Fintech |
| Card | MC · Debit |
| Stablecoins | No |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | Latin America |
Verified links: official site ↗
Common questions about Cuenca
What is Cuenca?
Cuenca is a fiat neobank, headquartered in Mexico City, MX and founded in 2018. Your money is held custodially, so Cuenca or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. It is regulated as a licensed bank (IFPE license (CNBV, Mexico, 2021) under Ley Fintech).
Does Cuenca have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues a Mastercard debit card. It is available in Latin America.
Does Cuenca require KYC?
Yes. Cuenca requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a licensed bank.
Peers
Wise · Nubank · Banco Inter · PicPay · PagBank · Nequi
Cuenca appears in
Neobanks that hold their own banking license (132) · Neobanks available in Latin America (113) · Neobanks that issue a Mastercard (150) · Neobanks in Mexico (11)
Figures compiled from public sources, for comparison only — not financial advice. "Up to" rates change constantly; always confirm with the issuer. Spotted an error? Suggest a fix.