Mexico's nationalbanking and securities commission, the CNBV, named seven banks of local systemicimportance based on the country's Basel framework for lending institutions, El Economista reported.

The banks includeBBVA Bancomer SA; , or Banamex;Banco Santander (México) SA;Banco Mercantil del Norte SA;HSBC México SA Institución de BancaMúltiple Grupo Financiero HSBC; BancoInbursa SA; and ScotiabankInverlat SA. Their status as systemically important institutions meansthat a potential bankruptcy could impact the country's financial stability or theeconomy, the report said.

According tothe Basel framework, the banks have to raise a minimum capitalization ratio thatis greater than the 10.5% required for other lenders. The level of additional capitalvaries for each bank as it also depends on the degree of system importance theyhave received.

BBVA Bancomer,which received a degree IV of systemic importance, has to fulfill an additional1.50% of capital. Grade III banks like Banamex and Santander need 1.20% of additionalcapital, while Grade II bank Banorte must generate an additional capital of 0.90%.Meanwhile, HSBC, Inbursa and Scotiabank must each need 0.60% of additional capital.

The banks haveto meet the additional capital requirements in a period of four years, or a 25%increase each year. However, all the banks have capitalization levels above thoserequired by the Basel framework as of the meantime, the report said. For instance,BBVA Bancomer has a minimum capitalization ratio of 13.70% as of February, greaterthan the required 12% for the bank.