The CuentaRUT is Chile's most widespread bank account. BancoEstado launched it in 2006 and, according to Diario Financiero, by early 2026 it had 15.5 million customers, was used by about 90% of Chileans over 12 and accounted for 52% of debit card purchases in the financial system over the previous 12 months. It is a demand account with a debit card, requires no minimum income, and its number is the holder's RUT without the check digit.
The biggest change of 2026 came on April 15: BancoEstado stopped charging CLP 300 per transfer from the CuentaRUT to other banks, as announced by the Ministry of Finance on April 6. This guide gathers the current fees according to the official ChileAtiende fact sheet (checked on November 5, 2026), the balance, deposit, withdrawal and transfer limits, and the steps to open one.
View the data as a table
| Customers | 15.5 million |
| Share of debit purchases | 52% |
| Maintenance fee | $0 |
| Fee to transfer to another bank | $0 |
CuentaRUT fees in 2026
The CuentaRUT has no opening or maintenance fee. Most transactions in Chile are free: transfers to BancoEstado accounts and to other banks, withdrawals at branch tellers, CajaVecina, BancoEstado Express and BancoEstado ATMs, balance inquiries and statements, and purchases through RedCompra, Compraquí and WebPay. The charges still in force, according to the ChileAtiende fact sheet, are these:
| Transaction | Cost | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Withdrawal at another bank's ATM | $300 | — |
| Balance inquiry at another bank's ATM | $100 | — |
| Card replacement at a branch (loss or theft) | $1.000 | — |
| Replacement with home delivery | $4.900 | — |
| Withdrawals and purchases abroad | 1.9% of the amount (minimum US$0.5) | — |
| Transfer to another bank | $0 | Apr 15, 2026 (was CLP 300) |
| Monthly maintenance | $0 | — |
Source: "CuentaRUT BancoEstado" fact sheet at ChileAtiende, checked on November 5, 2026. To use the card outside Chile, international use must be enabled in the BancoEstado app or website.
How much the end of the transfer fee saves
The math is simple: someone making 10 transfers a month to accounts at other banks paid CLP 3,000 a month, or CLP 36,000 a year. With 20 transfers a month, the saving reaches CLP 72,000 a year. The cost that can still add up is withdrawing cash at other banks' ATMs: four withdrawals a month at a third-party ATM cost CLP 1,200, while the same cash is free at a BancoEstado ATM, a branch teller or a CajaVecina.
CuentaRUT limits: balance, deposits, withdrawals and transfers
The CuentaRUT has caps worth knowing before receiving a large salary or a big sale. The maximum balance is CLP 5,000,000 and incoming deposits cannot exceed CLP 4,000,000 per calendar month; that limit resets on the first day of each month. A transfer that would exceed either cap does not go through. The amounts are those reported by BancoEstado and published by Meganoticias on July 10, 2026:
| Transaction | Limit |
|---|---|
| Maximum balance | $5.000.000 |
| Deposits per calendar month | $4.000.000 |
| Transfers via app or online banking (daily) | $2.000.000 |
| New payee, first 24 hours | CLP 200,000 per account and CLP 600,000 in total |
| BancoEstado ATM withdrawal (daily) | $400.000 |
| Other bank's ATM withdrawal (daily) | $200.000 |
| CajaVecina withdrawal (daily) | $200.000 |
| BancoEstado Express teller withdrawal (daily) | $5.000.000 |
| BancoEstado branch teller withdrawal | Up to the available balance |
For those receiving more than CLP 4 million a month or needing a higher balance, the natural alternative is a checking account or another bank's demand account without those caps. Our comparison of checking accounts by bank shows the income requirements and maintenance costs of each plan.
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See advertising optionsRequirements and how to open a CuentaRUT
According to ChileAtiende, the requirements are few: be Chilean or a foreigner with a valid identity card and be 12 or older. No proof of income or credit history is required. Minors under 18 sign the contract with their legal representative, who must also show their ID; through the app, the father or mother must be a customer with the app active.
- Step 1: fill in the pre-application on the BancoEstado website or in the BancoEstado app with a valid ID.
- Step 2: go to a BancoEstado or BancoEstado Express branch to sign the contract and pick up the debit card.
- Step 3: activate the app to transfer, pay and check statements. The application is free and the account has no end date.
A practical point that prompts many questions: the CuentaRUT number is the holder's RUT without the check digit. If the RUT is 12.345.678-9, the account number is 12345678, and the account type to choose when transferring is "Cuenta Vista" or "CuentaRUT", depending on the sending bank.
Twenty years of CuentaRUT: from an account for everyone to the dominant means of payment
The CuentaRUT was born in 2006 with a simple idea: anyone with an ID card could have a bank account without proving income. According to Diario Financiero, between 2022 and 2025 it added about 1.4 million new users, and the 2025 public accounts report of BancoEstado, one of Chile's largest banks, said it had reached 15.5 million customers. The latest milestone was scrapping the fee for transfers to other banks, which the government presented as relief for "millions of people who receive their salary, who work and who save", in the words of Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz.
- 2006BancoEstado creates the CuentaRUTDemand account with no income requirement, using the RUT as its number.
- 2022-2025Adds 1.4 million users
- February 202620 years and 15.5 million customers52% of debit purchases in the system.
- April 6, 2026Finance Ministry and BancoEstado announce end of CLP 300 fee
- April 15, 2026Transfers to other banks become free
The CuentaRUT is part of a broader trend. According to the CMF's 2025 Annual Report on Regional Financial Sector Statistics, in March 2025 there were 28,004,179 bank demand accounts in Chile, almost double the 14,862,919 of March 2014. In other words, there are more demand accounts than inhabitants, because many people hold more than one.
View the data as a table
| Demand accounts | |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 14.9 M |
| 2015 | 15.9 M |
| 2016 | 17.2 M |
| 2017 | 18.1 M |
| 2018 | 19.1 M |
| 2019 | 20.7 M |
| 2020 | 22.0 M |
| 2021 | 24.3 M |
| 2022 | 26.3 M |
| 2023 | 26.5 M |
| 2024 | 26.8 M |
| 2025 | 28.0 M |
By region, the CMF measures how many demand accounts there are per 1,000 people aged 15 or older. The Metropolitan region leads with 2,188, partly because accounts opened through digital channels are booked there; it is followed by Aysén (1,547), Magallanes (1,540) and Atacama (1,536). The lowest coverage is in Ñuble, with 1,098.
View the data as a table
| Accounts per 1,000 | |
|---|---|
| Metropolitana | 2,188 |
| Aysén | 1,547 |
| Magallanes | 1,540 |
| Atacama | 1,536 |
| Los Lagos | 1,448 |
| Arica y Parinacota | 1,425 |
| Antofagasta | 1,411 |
| Los Ríos | 1,305 |
| O'Higgins | 1,267 |
| Valparaíso | 1,266 |
| La Araucanía | 1,263 |
| Tarapacá | 1,241 |
| Coquimbo | 1,240 |
| Biobío | 1,229 |
| Maule | 1,191 |
| Ñuble | 1,098 |
Is money in a CuentaRUT safe?
Balances in demand accounts, such as the CuentaRUT, and in checking accounts have, according to the CMF, 100% coverage in the event of a bank's forced liquidation, whether they belong to individuals or companies. This is different from the state guarantee on term deposits and savings accounts, which covers up to UF 200 per institution and UF 400 across the system per calendar year for individuals.
That said, the CuentaRUT pays no interest. Anyone who wants their money to earn a return has to move it to another product: our guides explain how much a term deposit earns and which kinds of savings accounts exist, with their withdrawal and indexation rules.
Which profile it suits
- Suits those who need an account with no minimum income, receive payments, transfer often and withdraw at BancoEstado ATMs or CajaVecina.
- Falls short for those receiving more than CLP 4 million a month, holding balances above CLP 5 million or needing a credit line or chequebook.
- Watch out abroad: each purchase or withdrawal costs 1.9% of the amount, with a minimum of US$0.5.
This information is journalistic and educational, not financial advice. Check the conditions and the total cost (CAE) with the institution before signing up.
Frequently asked questions about the CuentaRUT
Does the CuentaRUT charge for transfers?
No. Since April 15, 2026, transfers to other banks are free, as are transfers between BancoEstado accounts.
How much does a CuentaRUT withdrawal cost?
It is free at BancoEstado ATMs, branch tellers, BancoEstado Express and CajaVecina. At other banks' ATMs it costs CLP 300 per withdrawal.
What is the CuentaRUT's maximum balance?
CLP 5,000,000, with deposits of up to CLP 4,000,000 per calendar month, according to BancoEstado.
From what age can it be opened?
From age 12, with a valid ID. Minors under 18 need their legal representative.
What is my CuentaRUT number?
It is your RUT without the check digit.
