Global networks dominate Mexico's card market, but Carnet, a domestic network built on local banks, still maintains a certain issuance base. Customers who hold only a domestic-network card drop off entirely at a checkout limited to global brands, so for merchants aiming for tight payment coverage in Mexico, accepting Carnet is a complementary option.

This is worth considering for high-volume commerce serving customers across all of Mexico, or businesses where a significant share of customers are in smaller regional cities, since card coverage gaps translate directly into lost sales for them. On the other hand, for premium products aimed mainly at high-income urban customers, global brands and wallet payments alone may be sufficient, so it makes sense to first check your customers' card composition data.

When a customer enters their Carnet card number at checkout, approval is requested through the domestic card network, and depending on the issuer's policy, the customer goes through 3-D Secure-based identity verification before the approval result is returned instantly. The input experience is similar to a global brand card, but you need to confirm during integration that approval routing goes through the domestic network, and that supported coverage can vary depending on BIN configuration.

Through Hecto Financial, you can review coverage for accepting local Mexican cards including Carnet, though the actual supported BINs and card types depend on the configuration of local acquiring partners. Confirm this in consultation as a separate item from global brand card integration.

• Business registration country

  Confirm contracting eligibility as a Korea-based business

• Sales channels

  Integration approach and priority vary depending on your mix of online sales channels, such as owned storefronts, marketplaces, and mobile apps

• Product categories handled

  Advance confirmation is needed on whether your business falls under a restricted category per Carnet's merchant policy

• Local regulatory compliance

  Confirmation is needed on compliance with Mexico's payment and foreign exchange regulations (see official sources below)

Funds approved on a Carnet card are collected locally in MXN and then converted, with payment made to the merchant in whichever currency of USD, KRW, or JPY is set in the contract. The settlement cycle is set by the contract, and refunds are processed as a cancellation of the original transaction (card reversal), so be sure to confirm the cancellation deadline and fee terms in the contract.

• Bank of Mexico (Banco de México); National Commission for the Protection and Defense of Financial Services Users (CONDUSEF)The official sources for card payment regulations and consumer protection are the two institutions above. If the content on this page differs from actual regulations, the official source takes precedence.