Buenos Aires
Practical Life
Bank services
There are no general guidelines for opening a bank account in Argentina. Every
bank appears to have its own requirements for opening an account, besides the
basics of a valid passport. Opening a savings account (cuenta
de ahorros) or checking account (cuenta
corriente) also affects what documents are required. The best advice
is contact the bank directly before making a trip.
In Argentina bank accounts can be opened in Argentina pesos (AR$) and in US Dollars (US$). The costs of these accounts usually vary. A checking account is used for daily payments, whereas a savings account is used to save money. Banks keep traditional "banker's hours" and are typically open on weekdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Banco La Nacion has the following requirements for foreigners to open an account:
- Original identification and a copy
- Proof of domicile (gas bill, telephone bill, etc.)
- Your CUIL ( Código Único de Identificación Laboral)/ CUIT ( Código Único de Identificación Tributaria) / CDI (Carnet de Identidad)
- Initial deposit. To open an account in pesos, this should be at least AR$10. For a dollar account, the initial deposit is US$ 500.
- Annual maintenance costs of the account are AR$ 6 for a peso account, and US$ 2 for a dollar account. The costs include a Maestro debit card.
You can find ATMs throughout the city. The most common are those that are part of the Banelco network and are identified by a burgundy sign. They can be found at banks, service stations, and malls.
Buenos Aires Banks
- American Express (Arenales 707, El Centro. 11/4310-3000).
- Banco Piano (San Martín 345, El Centro. 11/4394-2463).
- BankBoston (Florida 99, El Centro. 11/4820-2000).
- Cambio America (Sarmiento 501, El Centro. 11/4393-0054).
- Citibank (Florida 199, El Centro. 11/4329-1000).
- Forex Cambio (M. T. de Alvear 540, El Centro. 11/4010-2000).
- HSBC Republic (Florida 201, El Centro. 11/4320-2800).
- Western Union (J. L. Borges 2472, Palermo. 11/4777-1940)
Useful Addresses
29/05/2009