SPANISH MINDSET

If you’re Living in Buenos Aires, planning Business in Argentina, or joining the wave of digital nomads Argentina attracts, a local bank account makes life smoother—paying rent, receiving transfers, avoiding card fees, and getting a CBU (banking code) for direct deposits. The catch? Requirements vary by bank and by your immigration status. This guide gives you the current lay of the land, realistic paths for Expats in Argentina and those Retired in Argentina, and a packed phrasebook so you can walk into a branch and handle it in Argentine Spanish with confidence.

Quick primer: the 3 identifiers you’ll hear (CUIL, CUIT, CDI)

• CUIL (Código Único de Identificación Laboral): given by ANSES to employees and many residents. Foreigners who’ll work in Argentina can get a provisional CUIL after starting migration paperwork; once you have a foreigner DNI, you unify to a definitive CUIL. Argentina+1
• CUIT: tax ID for businesses/independents—less common for a simple personal savings account.

• ·  CUIL (Argentina) → SSN — Social Security Number
  
  
• ·  CUIT (Argentina) → EIN — Employer Identification Number
  
  

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Banking codes you’ll actually use: CBU vs CVU (and “alias”)

• CBU (Clave Bancaria Uniforme): the 22-digit code that identifies bank accounts. Every bank account has a CBU and you can set an alias CBU (easy name) for transfers.
• CVU (Clave Virtual Uniforme): the 22-digit code for fintech / wallet accounts (e.g., some prepaid cards). Useful for local transfers, but not always equivalent to a full bank account.

Tip: If your employer/landlord/accountant asks for “tu CBU o alias”, they’re asking for your bank account transfer details.

Cuentas y datos

• caja de ahorro (en pesos / en dólares) → savingsaccount(in ARS / USD)
• cuenta corriente → checkingaccount / currentaccount
• cuenta sueldo → payrollaccount
• CBU (Clave Bancaria Uniforme) → bank account ID / routing+account number (Argentina)
• alias (de CBU/CVU) → human-readable account alias
• CVU (Clave Virtual Uniforme) → virtual account ID (fintech)
• número de cuenta → account number
• titular de la cuenta → account holder
• caja de seguridad → safe-deposit box
• sucursal → branch (bank branch)

Cards and payments

• tarjeta de débito → debit card
• tarjeta de crédito → credit card
• límite de compra / de adelanto → purchase / cash-advance limit
• resumen (de tarjeta) → credit card statement
• vencimiento / fecha de cierre → duedate / statementclosingdate
• pago mínimo / pago total → minimumpayment / fullpayment
• POS / posnet / terminal → cardterminal / POS
• pago con QR → QRpayment
• contactless / sin contacto → contactless
• adhesión a débito automático → set up auto-debit (autopay)

Operations

• depósito → deposit
• extracción / retiro → withdrawal
• transferencia bancaria → banktransfer
• transferencia inmediata → instanttransfer
• cajero automático → ATM
• home banking / banca online → onlinebanking
• plazo fijo → fixed-term
• comprobante → receipt / proof of transaction
• cheque / chequera → check / checkbook
• cheque diferido → post-dated check

Balance, costs, and statements

• saldo disponible / saldo total → available balance / total balance
• mantenimiento de cuenta → account maintenance fee
• comisiones → fees
• gastos → charges/expenses (on statement)
• intereses → interest
• tasa (TNA/TEA) → rate (nominal/annual effective)
• multas / punitorios → late fees / penalty interest
• resumen de cuenta / extracto → accountstatement

Security and access

• usuario → username
• contraseña → password
• PIN / clave/Codigo → PIN / code
• doble factor (2FA) → two-factor authentication
• blanquear/resetear/rehacer clave → reset PIN/password
• bloquear / desbloquear tarjeta → lock / unlock card

Loans and exchange

• préstamo personal → personal loan
• hipoteca → mortgage
• preaprobado → pre-approved
• cotización del dólar → exchange rate for the dollar
• compra / venta de moneda → buying/selling currency
• casa de cambio →exchange house / bureau de change

Useful phrases (extra)

• ¿Quiero abrir una caja de ahorro en pesos.  
  I’d like to open a savings account in pesos.
• ¿Me pasás tu CBU o alias?
  Can you send me your CBU or alias?
• Necesito habilitar la tarjeta para el exterior.
  I need to enable my card for use abroad.
• ¿Pueden activar el token en mi app?
  Can you activate the token in my app?
• ¿Cuál es la comisión por transferencia?
   What’s the fee for a transfer?
• Vengo a blanquear la clave del cajero.
  I’m here to reset my ATM PIN.
• Quiero constituir un plazo fijo.
   I want to open a time deposit/fixed-term.
• ¿Cuál es la cotización hoy?
   What’s today’s exchange rate?

Spanish phrasebook: what to say at the bank

Booking and first contact

• Hola, ¿tienen turno para abrir una cuenta?
  Hi, do you have appointments to open an account?
• Soy extranjero con residencia precaria. ¿Me pueden indicar qué documentos necesito?
  I’m a foreigner with pending residence. Could you tell me which documents I need?
• ¿Puedo iniciar el trámite online o conviene ir a la sucursal?
  Can I start the process online or is it better to visit the branch?

Explaining your case

• Tengo DNI para extranjeros y constancia de CUIL.
  I have a foreigner DNI and my CUIL certificate.
• Aún no tengo DNI;
  I don’t have a DNI yet;

What you want to open

• Quisiera abrir una caja de ahorro en pesos.
  I’d like to open a savings account in pesos.
• ¿Puedo también abrir una caja de ahorro en dólares?
  Can I also open a USD savings account?
• Necesito el CBU y el alias para recibir transferencias.
  I need the CBU and alias to receive transfers.

Limits, costs, and practicalities

• ¿Cuáles son los límites de ingreso y extracción?
  What are the deposit/withdrawal limits?
• ¿Tienen costo de mantenimiento o es cuenta gratuita?
  Is there a monthly fee or is the account free?
• ¿Cuándo me llega la tarjeta de débito?
  When will my debit card arrive?

Online banking and security

• ¿Cómo genero mi usuario de home banking y el token?
  How do I create my online banking user and token?
• ¿Puedo cambiar mi alias de CBU?
  Can I change my CBU alias?
• ¿Cómo activo las transferencias internacionales?”(si aplica)
  How do I enable international transfers? (if applicable)

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Mini-dialogue (at the branch)

You: Hola, vengo a abrir una cuenta. Tengo DNI para extranjeros y la constancia de CUIL.
Hi, I’m here to open an account. I have a foreigner DNI and my CUIL certificate.

Bank rep: Perfecto. ¿Caja de ahorro en pesos?
Perfect. A savings account in pesos?

You: Sí, y me gustaría saber si puedo abrir también una en dólares.
Yes, and I’d like to know if I can also open one in USD.

Bank rep: Sí, se puede. Te voy a pedir un comprobante de domicilio. Después te asignamos el CBU y el alias.
Yes, you can. I’ll ask for proof of address. Then we’ll assign your CBU and alias.

You: Genial. ¿El token para el home banking lo genero acá o en la app?
Great. Do I generate the online-banking token here or in the app?

Email/WhatsApp templates you can copy

1. To request an appointment

Hola, ¿cómo están? Soy extranjero con residencia [precaria/temporaria/permanente] y quiero abrir una caja de ahorro en pesos. ¿Podemos coordinar un turno esta semana? Tengo [DNI/CUIL/CDI] y comprobante de domicilio. ¡Gracias!

Hi, I’m a foreigner with [status] and I’d like to open a savings account in pesos. Can we book an appointment this week? I have [DNI/CUIL/CDI] and proof of address. Thanks!

B) To clarify requirements

Antes de ir a la sucursal, ¿me confirman si necesitan CUIL o CDI, además del DNI/pasaporte? También quisiera saber si puedo abrir una cuenta en dólares.

Before I come to the branch, could you confirm whether you need CUIL or CDI, in addition to DNI/passport? I’d also like to know if I can open a USD account.

C) To request your CBU/alias confirmation

¿Me envían por favor el CBU y el alias de mi cuenta, o dónde verlo en el home banking?
Could you send me my CBU and alias, or tell me where to see it in online banking?

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Ready to live in Argentina with real confidence?

Join my 8-Month Resident Program — a complete, practical path to the Spanish you need to live, bank, rent, work, and handle daily life in Argentina. We’ll train your ear for Argentine Spanish (voseo, pronunciation, slang), build your speaking fluency, and prepare you step-by-step for the logistics that matter: opening a bank account, getting your CBU/alias, asking for turnos, handling WhatsApp with your bank, paying bills, renting, healthcare, and more.

What you’ll master (outcomes you can use on Day 1):

• Banking & money: phrases, docs, and role-plays to open your account, ask for CBU/alias, clarify CUIL/CDI, and solve issues at the branch or by WhatsApp.
  
  
• Housing & utilities: call agents, negotiate, and set up expensas, luz, gas, internet without stress.
• Healthcare & life admin: obra social/prepaga basics, pharmacy talk, appointments, emergency phrases.
• Work & meetings: polite voseo, WhatsApp etiquette, and phrases for alignment, pushback, and next steps.
• Everyday survival: SUBE, mobile plans, delivery apps, safety tips, and porteño small talk.

How we’ll get you there

• Personalized 1:1 + guided practice (speaking every week, with clear goals).
• Argentine-accent listening training with transcripts + shadowing.
• Templates & checklists (banking, rentals, appointments, follow-ups).
• Feedback loops so your Spanish stops sounding “textbook” and starts sounding local.
• Accountability & momentum so you keep moving.

Designed for:

• New residents, long-stay expats, remote professionals, and retirees who want real-life results, not just grammar.

If this sounds like what you need, it is.

PD: If you’ve read this far, you’re serious. Dale. Let’s make Argentina feel like home—en serio.