It is worth to point out in this respect that in August 2008, a few days before Lehman´s bankruptcy, the Mexican banking system had a capitalization ratio of 15 percent, a non-performing loan ratio of 3 percent, and a loan-loss reserve ratio of 156 percent.
Furthermore, Mexican legislation requires financial institutions offering services in Mexico to operate through subsidiaries, so that even if foreign entities have a participation in them, they are separate legal entities and have their own capital.