The accounts were opened between 1987 and 1999, before Banco Bilbao Vizcaya's merger with Argentaria.

ECONOMIST: Down the abyss

The top banks here, which include a handful of foreign-run banks such as Citigroup and Spain's Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, are widely seen as solid.

WSJ: Ch��vez Spurs Bank Fears

Spain's second-largest bank, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), in September acquired Laredo National Bancshares, which has a 23% market share in the Texas-Mexico border area.

FORBES: Show Me the Dinero