Updated November 6, 2026. Chile has 1,664,091 own-account workers, 17.9% of the employed, and another 761,094 dependent contractors working on commercial contracts or fee receipts for a single company, according to INE for July-September 2026. For them, opening an account is harder than for an employee: they have no pay slip and several plans require an employment contract. The Plan Scotiabank, for example, requires being an employee with a permanent or fixed-term contract, according to its page.
This guide gathers the accounts that do publish conditions for self-employed workers, with cost and requirements according to official fee schedules and the CMF spreadsheet. It recommends none: it compares data. Santander, Itaú and BICE blocked automated access to their sites on November 6, so their conditions for the self-employed are not included.
View the data as a table
| Own-account workers | 1,664,091 |
| Dependent contractors | 761,094 |
| Fee receipt withholding in 2026 | 15.25% |
| Monthly deposit to cut Bci's Plan Independiente fee | $1,000,000 |
Best accounts for self-employed workers in 2026: requirements and cost
The table separates two groups. Someone who issues fee receipts (boletas de honorarios) is, for a bank, an individual without a commercial business: personal accounts that do not require a contract work for them. Someone with a registered business activity can also opt for entrepreneur accounts. "Not published" means the condition does not appear in the documents reviewed.
| Account (bank) | For whom | Monthly cost | Income or seniority requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Independiente (Bci) | Only those without a current employment contract | UF 0.30 (CLP 12,384); UF 0.15 with deposits of CLP 1,000,000 or more a month | Not published |
| Cuenta Pro (BancoEstado) | Individual without a commercial business | UF 0,1 - UF 0,33 | Self-employed: 1 year with a tax return; income from CLP 100,000 |
| CuentaRUT (BancoEstado) | Anyone with a valid ID | $0 | No income requirement |
| Cuenta FAN (Banco de Chile) | Over 18 | $0 | No published income requirement |
| Cuenta Corriente (Banco Falabella) | Over 18 with a Chilean ID | UF 0.32; CLP 0 with a single deposit of CLP 500,000 or more, 8 debit purchases or another condition | Not published |
| Cuenta Corriente (Banco Ripley) | Individuals | CLP 0 with deposits of CLP 500,000 or more a month, 8 debit purchases or another condition | Not published |
| FAN Emprende (Banco de Chile) | Individuals with a registered business and Tu Empresa en un Día companies | CLP 0 opening and maintenance | No minimum sales or business age |
| Plan Scotiabank (Scotiabank) | Only employees | UF 0.30 | Income from CLP 500,000, age 25 and a contract |
Sources: Bci fee schedule (updated May 7, 2025), CMF, demand account fees and requirements file, data as of Jul 31, 2025, pages of Banco de Chile, Banco Falabella, Banco Ripley and Scotiabank checked Nov 6, 2026; FAN Emprende announcement of Nov 14, 2022. On the Cuenta Pro, the cost depends on the number of withdrawals and the channel. FAN Emprende does not include a credit line, checkbook or credit card, according to the bank. Fees for other demand accounts are compared in our 2026 demand accounts guide.
| Cuenta Pro (tope) | BancoEstado | 0.33 | 163,464 |
| Cuenta Corriente | Banco Falabella | 0.32 | 158,508 |
| Plan Independiente | Bci | 0.30 | 148,608 |
| Cuenta FAN | Banco de Chile | 0.00 | 0 |
| CuentaRUT | BancoEstado | 0.00 | 0 |
| FAN Emprende | Banco de Chile | 0.00 | 0 |
How a self-employed worker proves income
Without a pay slip, the bank looks at other documents: the fee receipts issued, the annual tax return (Form 22) and deposits into the account. That is why BancoEstado's Cuenta Pro asks the self-employed for one year with a tax return, according to the CMF, and Bci's Plan Independiente measures a recurring deposit: the sum of the month's deposits, which must reach CLP 1,000,000 to pay 0.15 UF instead of 0.30.
Fee receipts also carry a withholding that rises each year. According to the SII, in 2026 it is 15.25%: on a CLP 100,000 receipt, CLP 15,250 is withheld and CLP 84,750 is received. Law 21,133 sets a gradual increase to 17% in 2028, and that withholding funds the annual return through which the self-employed pay their health and pension contributions. For the account, the practical effect is that deposits arrive net of that withholding.
View the data as a table
| Withholding | |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 10.75% |
| 2021 | 11.50% |
| 2022 | 12.25% |
| 2023 | 13.00% |
| 2024 | 13.75% |
| 2025 | 14.50% |
| 2026 | 15.25% |
| 2027 | 16.00% |
| 2028 | 17.00% |
How much reaches the account depending on what is billed
Account conditions are measured by what comes into the account, which for a fee receipt is the net amount after withholding. That changes the math: to reach the CLP 1,000,000 in deposits required by Bci's Plan Independiente, receipts must exceed one million gross. The table applies 2026's 15.25% withholding to four monthly amounts (Pauta Financiera calculation, using the SII rate).
| Gross receipts per month | Withholding (15.25%) | Net reaching the account | Reaches CLP 1,000,000 (Bci)? | Reaches CLP 500,000 (Falabella, Ripley)? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLP 600,000 | CLP 91,500 | CLP 508,500 | No | Yes |
| CLP 1,000,000 | CLP 152,500 | CLP 847,500 | No | Yes |
| CLP 1,200,000 | CLP 183,000 | CLP 1,017,000 | Yes | Yes |
| CLP 1,500,000 | CLP 228,750 | CLP 1,271,250 | Yes | Yes |
With CLP 1,200,000 gross a month, CLP 1,017,000 arrives, just above Bci's threshold; with CLP 1,000,000 gross, CLP 847,500 arrives, below that threshold but above the CLP 500,000 required by Banco Falabella (in a single deposit) and Banco Ripley (over the month). If payments arrive in several small transfers, Banco Falabella's condition is not met even if the monthly total is higher. Keeping work income and personal spending in separate accounts also helps when filing the annual tax return.
Does your bank, fintech or platform serve the self-employed and SMEs? Show your offer on Pauta Financiera.
See advertising optionsDemand account, checking account or business account: differences for the self-employed
A demand account is the entry point: it requires no income, works for receiving transfers and paying by debit, and several charge no fee. A checking account adds checks and an overdraft line and usually comes in a plan with a credit card; it carries the most weight when applying for loans, but requires proof of income. A business account, such as FAN Emprende, separates business from personal finances and, according to Banco de Chile, is aimed at individuals with a registered business and small companies created through Tu Empresa en un Día.
| Account type | Requires proof of income | Includes credit | Usually suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demand account | Not for CuentaRUT or Cuenta FAN | No | Those starting out with fee receipts |
| Checking account or plan | Yes, depending on the bank | Overdraft line and card | Self-employed with steady income and a tax return |
| Business account (SME) | Not for FAN Emprende | Not on FAN Emprende | People with a registered commercial activity |
Sources: Bci fee schedule (updated May 7, 2025), CMF, demand account fees and requirements file, data as of Jul 31, 2025, pages of Banco de Chile, Banco Falabella, Banco Ripley and Scotiabank checked Nov 6, 2026. Those who also need a credit card without pay slips can check credit cards that are easy to get, and those deciding between a demand account and a digital wallet, our comparison of digital accounts. Each checking account's requirements for employees are in our guide to accounts to receive your salary.
Which account fits each type of self-employed worker
- Just starting to issue fee receipts: a demand account with no income requirement, such as CuentaRUT or Cuenta FAN, which report a CLP 0 fee.
- Bills over CLP 1,000,000 a month and wants a checking account: Bci's Plan Independiente drops to 0.15 UF with deposits above that amount.
- Receives large but irregular payments: at Banco Falabella, a single CLP 500,000 deposit in the month brings the checking account to CLP 0.
- More than a year filing tax returns: BancoEstado's Cuenta Pro accepts the self-employed with that track record.
- Has a registered business: entrepreneur accounts such as FAN Emprende, with no fixed cost, although without credit.
To compare other checking account plans, with their minimum income and cost, see our guide to checking accounts by bank.
Frequently asked questions about accounts for the self-employed
Which bank has a plan for self-employed workers?
Bci publishes a Plan Independiente for those without a current employment contract: 0.30 UF a month, or 0.15 UF with deposits of CLP 1,000,000 or more, according to its fee schedule.
Can I open a checking account with fee receipts?
It depends on the bank. Bci has a plan for the self-employed and BancoEstado accepts self-employed people with a year of tax returns for its Cuenta Pro. The Plan Scotiabank, however, requires an employment contract.
How much is withheld from a fee receipt in 2026?
15.25%, according to the SII. It rises to 16% in 2027 and 17% in 2028.
Which account does not require proof of income?
BancoEstado's CuentaRUT has no income requirement and Banco de Chile's Cuenta FAN only requires being over 18; both report a CLP 0 fee.
Are deposit conditions measured on the gross or net receipt amount?
With what comes into the account. If the client withholds 15.25%, the net amount arrives: a CLP 1,000,000 receipt deposits CLP 847,500, below the CLP 1,000,000 Bci's Plan Independiente requires for its reduced fee.
How many self-employed workers are there in Chile?
1,664,091 own-account workers in July-September 2026, 17.9% of the employed, plus 761,094 dependent contractors, according to INE.
This information is journalistic and educational, not financial advice. Check the conditions and the total cost (CAE) with the institution before signing up.
