Could Citi Lose Its Mexican Bank?

Citigroup could face losing its Mexican subsidiary Banamex, after Mexican senators asked the Supreme Court, on Wednesday, to rule whether or not the local bank would be breaking the law by being partly owned by the United States government.

Under a 20-year-old Mexican law, foreign governments cannot own banks in the country.

The U.S. government bought a 34% stake in Citigroup during the midst of the global economic crisis, which raises legal questions about Banamex, the second largest bank in Mexico, and Citi's subsidiary.

The Mexican Supreme Court will decide in the coming weeks to rule on whether or not Citigroup should be forced to sell its Mexican unit.

Mexico's Finance Ministry had already ruled in March that the U.S. government's stake in Citigroup did not pose a problem with Mexican bank regulations.