Data as of November 9, 2026. There is no single "best bank account": there is a best one for each use. Chile has 28,004,179 demand accounts, 15,354,018 term savings accounts, 13,816,196 checking accounts and 6,964,038 housing savings accounts, according to the CMF, 2025 Annual Report on Regional Financial Sector Statistics, data as of March 2025. That is more accounts than adults, because almost everyone has more than one: one to receive and pay, another to save and, sometimes, one with a credit line.
This guide compares the five types of account offered by banks, cooperatives and payment companies (checking, demand, CuentaRUT, digital and savings) using the same five criteria: what they cost, what they require, whether they pay interest, what protection the balance has and which profile they suit. Every figure comes from the CMF, the Central Bank or the institution's official document, with the date of the data.
View the data as a table
| Demand accounts | 28,004,179 |
| Term savings accounts | 15,354,018 |
| Checking accounts | 13,816,196 |
| Housing savings | 6,964,038 |
Best bank accounts in Chile 2026: comparison by type
The table summarizes what sets each type apart. Costs are ranges for the products reviewed in our comparisons, with each source noted below; peso figures use the UF of November 9, 2026 (CLP 41,295, SII).
| Type | What it is for | Monthly fee | Typical requirements | Interest | Balance protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checking account | Salary, payments, credit line and checkbook | UF 0 to 0.68 (most drop to zero with conditions) | Income of CLP 400,000 to 10 million in plans with credit; digital ones require none | Generally not | 100% in forced liquidation |
| Demand account | Receive and pay with debit and transfers | CLP 0 to UF 0.25 | ID card and legal age; almost none require income | Only three: 0.35% to MPR + 0.5% a year | 100% in forced liquidation |
| CuentaRUT | BancoEstado's demand account for everyone | $0 | From age 12, no income | No | 100% in forced liquidation |
| Digital or prepaid account | Pay and transfer from your phone | $0 | ID card and biometric check | Some, with conditions (up to 6% a year) | If prepaid, it is not a bank deposit |
| Savings account | Save with UF indexation | CLP 0 in general; charges if the balance is low | ID card; some require being a customer or member | Yes: UF + 0.15% to UF + 0.45% | State guarantee of UF 200 per bank |
Sources: checking account plans on seven banks' official websites (November 6 and 9, 2026); CMF, demand account fee simulator, fees in force as of Jul 31, 2025; ChileAtiende for CuentaRUT; each digital account's official pages (November 5, 2026); fee schedules of Coopeuch (November 2, 2026), Banco Falabella and Scotiabank for savings accounts; CMF for balance protection.
The best bank accounts by type, with data
Checking account: 20 plans, from UF 0 to 0.68 a month
In our ranking of 20 checking account plans from 7 banks, updated November 9, 2026, the only ones charging UF 0 with no conditions are Scotiabank's ScotiaZero (no credit line or minimum income) and the Security 1 Plan (for incomes from CLP 10 million). With a credit line and card, the lowest base fee is Bci's University Plan (UF 0.08) and the highest is Santander's Limited LATAM Pass Plan (UF 0.68, about CLP 28,081 a month). Most drop to zero if you deposit your salary or meet a minimum deposit. Bank-by-bank details are in our comparison of checking account plans.
Demand account: four with no fee and three that pay interest
According to the CMF, demand account fee simulator, fees in force as of Jul 31, 2025, the demand accounts with no monthly fee are BancoEstado's CuentaRUT, Banco de Chile's Cuenta FAN, Santander's Más Lucas (if you do not have a checking account at the bank) and Coopeuch's demand account. Only three pay interest on the balance: Banco Consorcio's Cuenta Más (MPR + 0.5% a year, now 5% with the policy rate at 4.5%), Más Lucas (1.92%) and Scotiabank's Cuenta Renta Diaria (0.35%, no longer sold). The full comparison of fees and requirements is in our guide to demand accounts in 2026.
CuentaRUT: the entry point, with limits
CuentaRUT charges no monthly fee, can be opened from age 12 without proof of income and, since April 15, 2026, no longer charges for transfers to other banks. Its limits are a maximum balance of CLP 5 million and deposits of CLP 4 million a month, and it charges CLP 300 per withdrawal at other banks' ATMs and 1.9% on purchases abroad. When it works and when it falls short is explained in CuentaRUT vs. demand account.
Digital accounts: no cost and, some, with returns
Digital accounts and wallets almost never charge a fee and several pay interest on the balance, with conditions: Copec Pay pays 6% a year in its Mis Ganancias feature for balances between CLP 40,000 and 2,000,000 (Copec Pay) and MACHBANK 4.6% a year in its Ahorro 24/7 account (MACHBANK), according to their official pages checked on November 5, 2026. Note the difference: a prepaid account is not a bank deposit. We compare them in best digital accounts and wallets.
Savings account: UF indexation plus a low rate
Indexed savings accounts pay the change in the UF plus a rate. In Coopeuch's fee schedule updated on November 2, 2026, its savings accounts report between UF + 0.40% and UF + 0.45% a year, and its nominal accounts between 3.10% and 3.20% (rates since July 1, 2026). Among banks that publish their rate, Banco Falabella pays UF + 0.30% and Scotiabank UF + 0.15% to UF + 0.20%. Withdrawal and indexation rules are in our guide to savings accounts.
| CuentaRUT (BancoEstado) | Demand | 0.000 | 0.00 |
| Cuenta FAN (Banco de Chile) | Demand | 0.000 | 0.00 |
| Más Lucas (Santander, without checking account) | Demand | 0.000 | 1.92 |
| Coopeuch demand account | Demand | 0.000 | 0.00 |
| Cuenta Más (Consorcio) | Demand | 0.089 | 5.00 |
| ScotiaZero (Scotiabank) | Checking | 0.000 | 0.00 |
| Digital Checking Account (Santander), ages 30-69 | Checking | 0.160 | 0.00 |
| MACHBANK (Bci) | Digital checking | 0.000 | 0.00 |
| Copec Pay, Mis Ganancias | Prepaid | 0.000 | 6.00 |
| Mercado Pago | Prepaid | 0.000 | 0.00 |
| Tenpo | Demand and prepaid | 0.000 | 0.00 |
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See advertising optionsWhich bank account suits your profile
- No income or just starting to work: a demand account with no fee (CuentaRUT, Cuenta FAN, Más Lucas) or a digital checking account with no minimum income, such as ScotiaZero or Santander's Digital Checking Account (free up to age 24).
- Steady salary deposited into the account: a checking account plan that drops to zero with salary deposits; what to check is the cost of the card and the credit line.
- People who only pay and transfer from their phone: a digital account; if you keep a balance, one that pays interest on it, checking whether it is prepaid or a bank deposit.
- Saving for a goal months or years away: an indexed savings account or a time deposit, which today pays more on average than any demand account.
- Frequent purchases abroad: check the international purchase fee, which ranges from 0 to 3.5% depending on the account.
For money you will not touch for months, the benchmark is the time deposit: in October 2026, 30-to-89-day deposits paid an average of 4.17% a year, according to the Central Bank. What they earn and what each institution publishes is in our note on time deposits.
Is the money safe? The protection of each account
According to the CMF, balances in checking and demand accounts, including CuentaRUT, are 100% covered if a bank goes into forced liquidation. Savings accounts and time deposits of individuals have a state guarantee of up to UF 200 per institution and UF 400 across the system per calendar year: at the UF of November 9, 2026, CLP 8,259,092 and CLP 16,518,184. Prepaid accounts are issued by companies registered with the CMF, but they are not bank deposits. To choose an institution by complaints and soundness, see our ranking of the best banks in Chile.
| Product | Protection | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Checking and demand account | Coverage if the bank is liquidated | 100% |
| Savings account and time deposit (individuals) | State guarantee | UF 200 per bank (CLP 8,259,092) and UF 400 across the system |
| Prepaid account | Not a bank deposit; issuer supervised by the CMF | — |
Frequently asked questions about the best bank accounts
What is the best bank account in Chile?
It depends on the use. To receive and pay at no cost, a demand account with no fee such as CuentaRUT or Cuenta FAN; for a salary with a credit line, a checking account plan that drops to zero with salary deposits; to save, an indexed savings account or a time deposit.
Which bank account has no monthly fee?
Among demand accounts, CuentaRUT, Cuenta FAN, Más Lucas (without a checking account) and Coopeuch's, according to the CMF. Among checking accounts, ScotiaZero and the Security 1 Plan, plus almost all digital accounts.
Which account pays the most interest?
Among those that publish their rate, Copec Pay reports 6% a year for balances of CLP 40,000 to 2 million, Consorcio's Cuenta Más pays the MPR plus 0.5% and MACHBANK 4.6% in Ahorro 24/7. As a benchmark, 30-to-89-day time deposits paid 4.17% in October 2026.
What is the difference between a checking and a demand account?
A checking account can include a checkbook and a credit line, and plans with a card require an income; a demand account only lets you use the available balance and almost never requires income.
How many bank accounts are there in Chile?
As of March 2025, 28,004,179 demand accounts, 15,354,018 term savings accounts, 13,816,196 checking accounts and 6,964,038 housing savings accounts, according to the CMF.
This information is journalistic and educational, not financial advice. Check the conditions and the total cost (CAE) with the institution before signing up.
