¡Hola amigos! It goes without saying that the past few days have been stressful. After U.S. sanctions hit CIBanco, Intercam, and Vector, many of us were left scrambling.

Today, we’re breaking down the fallout — and offering a secure workaround to move money into Mexico if you're in the process of buying or building.

We're also debuting a new section: Life in Mexico. Each month, we’ll spotlight stories and real-life situations that matter to our community. This week, we’re kicking it off with a powerful reader story about a bank scam — no password, no transfer made, but still MXN 6,000 gone.

Also inside: Banxico cuts interest rates, dolphin shows are now officially banned, and how Mexico helped spark the global psychedelic movement.

❓Mexico Trivia

Which Mexican president served for less than one hour before stepping down?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 Que Paso

🏦 On June 26, Mexico’s banking commission (CNBV) stepped in to temporarily take over CIBanco, Intercam, and Vector after U.S. sanctions triggered mass withdrawals, halted investments, and blocked access to key payment systems. The move aims to stabilize the financial system – but yes, the banks are still operating (for now).

💳 Visa has “unilaterally” pulled its banking support from CIBanco, suspending all international transactions. The global freeze hits services and cards, particularly the ClCash Multicurrency program.

🏢 Fibra Inn, the hotel trust behind Courtyard by Marriott and Hampton by Hilton, voted unanimously to drop CIBanco as its issuer trustee. While a new trustee is being chosen, CIBanco will stay on temporarily.

📉 Fitch Ratings just downgraded Intercam, CIBanco, and Vector to “B” following U.S. money laundering allegations and a CNBV takeover. All three institutions are now on Negative Watch, signaling more possible downgrades ahead.

📉 Banxico unanimously cut its benchmark rate by 50 basis points to 8.00% and revised short-term inflation forecasts upward.

🚆 Mexico’s Senate just passed a major rail reform and created a new agency, ATTRAPI, to oversee passenger and freight transport. The plan? Connect cities, cut emissions, and boost jobs. It’s now waiting on final approval from the executive branch.

🐬 Mexico’s Congress passed a nationwide ban on dolphin shows and the use of marine mammals in entertainment. The law also outlaws captive breeding and requires strict welfare standards for dolphins currently in captivity.

The Workshop Your Insurance Company Doesn't Want You Attending

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🍎 Your Health Pulse

Health Insurance Options for Families in Mexico

Medical costs are rising in Mexico. Should you have a medical emergency without health insurance, you’ll have to pay for your treatment entirely on your own.

Want to go to a private hospital? Be ready to pay a deposit of at least 20,000 to 30,000 pesos — just to get in the door.

Now imagine if multiple family members need medical care. The costs can escalate quickly.

🏠 Real Estate Roundup 

^{In partnership with MexEdge}

Bank Sanctions Create Chaos – But There’s a Workaround

Buying or building a home in Mexico just got more complicated thanks to last week's U.S. Treasury sanctions blocking American financial institutions from sending funds to three Mexican banks – Intercam, CIBanco, and Vector Casa de Bolsa.

The announcement sent the expat community into a full-blown tizzy. People were panicking – and rightfully so. This is scary stuff. 

Friends had money stuck in banking no-man’s land for hours. I read stories from Ajijic where local banks ran out of cash after a rush of withdrawals. I’ll be honest, I was freaking out, too. We’re not just talking delays here…we’re talking closings at risk, deposits in limbo, and zero clarity on what comes next.

For Americans and Canadians building or buying property in Mexico, the uncertainty is real. 

Many have relied on Intercam and CIBanco to handle cross-border payments. With these banks blocked, buyers now face delayed or canceled transactions and confusion about how to safely transfer large sums to Mexico.

Beyond this disruption, the situation highlights a long-standing challenge: How to move money securely, avoid delays, and reduce risk.

If you're building or buying, one solution is MexEdge.

MexEdge is a bank-independent service designed specifically for foreign buyers needing to move funds from the U.S. or Canada to Mexico securely. 

It offers cross-border payments, competitive exchange rates, and the ability to lock in your rate to avoid surprises from currency swings or market turbulence.

“Weʼre already seeing a surge in inquiries from buyers whose payments were routed through CIBanco, Intercam, or Vector,” said George Reavis, Founder and CEO of MexEdge. “We know how stressful it is to have your closing suddenly at risk. Thatʼs why MexEdge is ready to provide a secure, compliant alternative so buyers can complete their property purchases in Mexico with confidence and without delays.”

If you’re wiring large sums for a home, book a free session and get clear on your options.

🧩 Life in Mexico

How I Got Scammed by Someone Pretending to Be My Bank

As banking uncertainty shakes our community, we’re grateful to reader Emerson Howell Nagel for sharing a deeply personal story about how quickly things can go wrong.

Emerson spent 19 years in banking. She considered herself savvy about bank fraud.

Yet, she fell for a con.

When her Mexican phone rang and displayed the exact number she had registered for Santander, she took the call. After all, it was her bank. It was their number.

On the other end: A calm, professional voice claiming to be from Santander’s fraud department, warning of suspicious activity on her account.

Step by step, they walked her through “security measures” designed to protect her balance – cloning bank procedures so precisely that it felt like she was dealing with her own branch.

She never transferred money. She never shared a password.

And yet, by the end of the call, MXN 6,000 was gone.

It could’ve been worse. But what she learned could save someone else from falling into the same trap.

🇲🇽 Viva México

How Mexico Helped Launch the Psychedelic Movement

Long before magic mushrooms were a vehicle for mind-expanding trips, they held sacred meaning in Indigenous Mexican communities. 

These fungi (hongos) were tools for healing, insight, and communion with the divine.

During colonization, the Catholic Church tried to suppress these rituals, but healers concealed their ancient and sacred knowledge, protecting it and passing it down through generations.

Everything changed in 1955 when amateur ethnomycologist R. Gordon Wasson traveled to Mexico. He persuaded María Sabina, a respected healer in Huatla, Oaxaca, to let him participate in a ceremony.

His Life Magazine article, "Seeking the Magic Mushroom," brought international attention to Mexico's psychedelic traditions. 

And just like that, the small mountain town of Huautla de Jiménez in Oaxaca, Mexico, became the focal point for the psychedelic counterculture movement. 

It sparked a pilgrimage of North American, European, and Mexican jipis (hippies) that allegedly brought celebrities like Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, and Timothy Leary. 

Why allegedly? While verifiable evidence of these celebrity visits is scarce, numerous sources and local accounts mention their presence in Huautla.

While María Sabina gained international recognition, the influx of outsiders brought opportunities and profound challenges to the community. In Huautla, the wave of psychedelic tourists disrupted everyday life and often led to sacred rituals being stripped of context.

María Sabina had shared the ceremonies in good faith, hoping to heal and help others. Instead, she faced backlash from her people, and at one point, her home was even set on fire.

However, mixed in with the mystics and mushroom-chasers were researchers, ethnobotanists, and writers. They helped document and preserve sacred knowledge, the same traditions and ideas Indigenous healers had protected for generations, despite centuries of colonial and religious suppression.

María Sabina is remembered as a cultural icon, celebrated for her profound contributions to spiritual healing and Indigenous culture. Her legacy inspires new generations to protect and uplift Indigenous traditions.

The echo of her wisdom can be heard in the words of Mexican rock band El Tri who put out the song “María Sabina” in 1989: 

Ella fue una mujer de conocimiento, y aunque murió en el olvido, su espíritu vive en el viento.

She was a woman of knowledge, and though she died forgotten, her spirit lives on in the wind.

Watch the video here to see rare images of María Sabina and some of those who sought her wisdom. 

🪷 Viva Wellness

Mexico’s Ancient Cure for a Scratchy Throat

When rainy season rolls into Mexico, sunshine can flip to downpours in minutes. And those sudden swings in temperature and humidity trigger sore throats and seasonal sniffles.

But there's a quick fix locals have used for centuries: Chilcuague (pronounced cheel-KWAH-geh).

This medicinal root, Heliopsis longipes, is native to the highland regions of Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, and Querétaro. 

Indigenous communities have used Chilcuague to treat throat infections, toothaches, and even to help ward off illness when the weather changes. It’s packed with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant compounds. And when used topically, it can ease skin irritations like rashes or bug bites.

But first-timers take note – start with a small amount! Chilcuague delivers an intense numbing, tingling sensation, followed by a flood of salivation. It’s an odd sensation, but the pain relief is almost instant.

You can chew the root directly, steep it into a tea, or find it in tinctures, sprays, and ointments. Chilcuague is available at local markets, health stores, and online.

Click below to see what else this powerful medicinal plant can do. 

🎉 Vamos! Events

🎡 Feria Rosarito 2025 – July 3–27, Playas de Rosarito, Baja California 
One of Baja’s biggest summer fiestas is back! Held at Plaza San Fernando, this 25-day fair brings carnival rides, regional food, charreadas, and a concert lineup packed with stars like Lenin Ramírez, El Komander, and Los Plebes del Rancho. Mondays are free, and Tuesdays are 2x1 entry. More info here.

🌵 Festival de las Cactáceas – July 4–6, Club de Leones de Querétaro
Calling all plant lovers! Querétaro’s Cactacea Festival is your ticket to a weekend full of thorns, blooms, and biodiversity. Held at the historic Club de Leones, this family-friendly event features workshops for all ages, a massive plant expo-sale, and expert tips on cactus care. Entry is free – just bring your love for all things prickly. More info here.

🎥 MUBI Fest CDMX – July 4–6, Mexico City
Mexico City is one of only 11 cities in the world hosting this global celebration of independent cinema. For three days, film lovers can enjoy a curated lineup of cult classics, exclusive premieres, and thoughtful conversations with directors and critics. Expect more than just movies—there’ll be art installations, film workshops, live music, and food experiences that bring cinema to life. More info here.

💃 Soltero Fest – July 5, Centro Histórico, Guanajuato 
Looking to meet someone under the stars (and maybe at the Callejón del Beso)? Soltero Fest is Guanajuato’s most iconic night for singles, featuring a live callejoneada led by the Estudiantina de Guanajuato. The night kicks off at the Templo San Diego beside Teatro Juárez, winds through 12 legendary alleys, and ends with music, drinks, and dancing at the city’s most romantic corner. More info here.

🚛 Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live – July 12–13, Arena CDMX 
Get ready for roaring engines, flying dirt, and serious adrenaline—Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live is crashing into Arena CDMX for a weekend of jaw-dropping action. See fan-favorites like Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, and Bigfoot take on jumps, stunts, and smashes. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

“Le echa mucha crema a los tacos.”

Translation: He/she puts a lot of cream on the tacos.

Use this playful expression when someone’s laying it on extra thick – whether they’re bragging, exaggerating, or just making a story sound too good to be true.

It’s the Mexican way of saying, “Okay, tone it down a bit!”

Great for teasing a friend who claims their Spanish is fluent after one Duolingo session. 😉

 🎯 Mexico Trivia Answer

Pedro Lascuráin holds the record for the shortest presidency in Mexican history (and the Guinness World Record), having served for less than 45 minutes on February 19, 1913.

He became president only to legally appoint General Victoriano Huerta as Minister of Foreign Affairs, making Huerta the next in line. Lascuráin immediately resigned as planned, completing his role in a strategically engineered coup during the Decena Trágica (Ten Tragic Days) of political violence.

Why El Expat Insider Mexico? Life abroad isn’t just about relocating — it’s about reinventing. Every sunrise in Mexico brings new opportunities to explore, learn, and connect. Whether you’re here for a season or a lifetime, we’re your compass for making the most of every moment. Because life’s too short to live on autopilot.

Want to reach globally minded readers living in Mexico? To become an El Expat Insider Mexico partner, apply here.

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