Jan 18 (Reuters) - Mexican bank Banorte is the country's lender best placed to buy Citigroup's consumer banking arm known as Citibanamex, analysts from Bank of America Securities said on Tuesday in a research note.

According to the report, Banorte is the best option by a number of measures, including a strong capital position, a successful track-record of consolidation and shares representing an attractive currency, trading at 1.8 times trailing book value and a $20.7 billion market cap.

Besides that, the report also mentioned that Banorte “has taken a lead role in the digital transformation in Mexico," and is “likely to have the government's support, accelerating regulatory approvals, as the country's government has stated that “it would like to see Banamex in Mexican ownership again."

“A potential combination with Banamex would be transformational and cement Banorte among the two largest Mexican banks," wrote BofA analysts Mario Pierry and Ernesto Gabilondo. "But the financial merits of a potential transaction are not yet clear.”

The analysts noted that if such an acquisition happened, the combined lender would be similar in size to the Mexican unit of Spain's BBVA in the consumer and mortgage segments, and would overtake it as the country's largest credit card player.

Last Tuesday, Citigroup announced a plan to sell its Mexican consumer banking unit, opening the way for extensive speculation on who the buyer would be. Businesspeople such as billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego and Mexican entrepreneur Garza Calderon, local banks and foreign banks are among the potential bidders. (Reporting by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Marguerita Choy)