A digital account can be opened from a phone in minutes, almost never charges a maintenance fee and, in 2026, several pay interest on the balance. The market changed fast over the past year: Tenpo became the first neobank authorized by the CMF (Forbes Chile, January 2026), MACH became MACHBANK and offers a no-fee checking account, and Mercado Pago holds 9.6 million active prepaid cards, 68% of the national total, according to CMF figures cited by Diario Estrategia.
This comparison, updated on November 5, 2026, reviews 11 digital accounts and wallets using each one's fee schedule, contract or official page: what they charge for maintenance, transfers, withdrawals and purchases abroad, what limits they have and what they pay on balances. When an institution does not publish a figure, the cell says "not published".
View the data as a table
| Mercado Pago prepaid cards | 9.6 million |
| Highest published return | 6% a year |
| Accounts with no maintenance fee | 10 |
| Digital payments per person per year | 435 |
The best digital accounts in Chile in 2026: cost comparison
The table summarizes the costs each institution publishes. Bank accounts (MACHBANK, Tenpo Bank, Cuenta FAN, Banco Falabella and ScotiaZero) are checking or demand accounts; those from prepaid card issuers (Mercado Pago, Tapp, Copec Pay, Dale and Prex) are prepaid accounts registered with the CMF. UF amounts were converted at the UF of CLP 41,274.20 on November 5, 2026.
| Account | Type | Maintenance | Transfer to another bank | ATM withdrawal | Purchases abroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MACHBANK (Bci) | Checking account | $0 | $0 | CLP 0 (max. 2 a day) | 0% per terms |
| Tenpo | Demand account and prepaid (Tenpo Bank checking) | $0 | $0 | Prepaid: CLP 200 per withdrawal | No fee |
| Mercado Pago | Prepaid | $0 | Free | not published | 0% up to US$2,500 |
| Tapp (Caja Los Andes) | Prepaid | $0 | $0 | 1st of the month free; then UF 0.0164 (free until Dec 31, 2026) | $0 |
| Copec Pay | Prepaid | $0 | $0 | Not allowed (cash at Pronto stores) | No fee |
| Cuenta FAN (Banco de Chile) | Demand account | $0 | $0 | UF 0.006 (about CLP 248) at Banco de Chile; UF 0.017 (about CLP 702) elsewhere | US$0.5 per purchase |
| Cuenta Vista Banco Falabella | Demand account | UF 0.25 (UF 0.1 with conditions; CLP 0 ages 14 to 25) | not published | Other ATMs UF 0.016 + VAT | $0 |
| ScotiaZero (Scotiabank) | Digital checking account | $0 | not published | Up to CLP 400,000 a day at Scotiabank ATMs; cost not published | not published |
| Dale (Coopeuch) | Digital prepaid | $0 | $0 | No physical card | not published |
| Prex | Prepaid | $0 | not published | CLP 250 + VAT | not published |
| CuentaRUT (benchmark) | Demand account | $0 | CLP 0 since Apr 15, 2026 | CLP 300 at other banks | 1.9% (min. US$0.5) |
Sources, checked on November 5, 2026: MACHBANK and MACH terms; Tenpo and Tenpo prepaid card; Mercado Pago terms and conditions; Tapp fees and limits; Copec Pay; Banco de Chile, Cuenta FAN costs and use abroad; Banco Falabella fee schedule in force since Apr 1, 2026; Scotiabank; Coopeuch Dale; Prex rates and fees; ChileAtiende, CuentaRUT. MACH's international purchase fee comes from a 2023 terms sheet.
| MACHBANK | Bank (Bci) | 0 | 0 | 4.6% |
| Tenpo | Bank (Tenpo Bank) | 0 | 200 | 4.4% |
| Mercado Pago | Prepaid issuer | 0 | No data | 5.0% |
| Tapp | Prepaid issuer | 0 | 0 | No data |
| Copec Pay | Prepaid issuer | 0 | No data | 6.0% |
| Cuenta FAN | Bank (Banco de Chile) | 0 | 702 | No data |
| Cuenta Vista Banco Falabella | Bank | 10,319 | 786 | No data |
| ScotiaZero | Bank (Scotiabank) | 0 | No data | No data |
| Dale | Cooperative (Coopeuch) | 0 | No data | No data |
| Prex | Prepaid issuer | 0 | 298 | No data |
| CuentaRUT | Bank (BancoEstado) | 0 | 300 | No data |
Which digital account pays most on your balance
The big news of 2026 is yield. Copec Pay pays 6% a year through its Mis Ganancias feature on balances between CLP 40,000 and 2,000,000, and 4% on the excess (Copec Pay). Mercado Pago offers "returns of up to 5% a year" through a product with Banco BICE (Mercado Pago); the account contract clarifies that the balance itself earns no interest. MACHBANK pays 4.6% a year on its Ahorro 24/7 savings account (MACHBANK), and 6% to those paying for the CLP 4,990 a month Premium plan. Tenpo pays 4.4% a year on its Cuenta Remunerada with an average daily balance of at least CLP 30,000 (Tenpo).
These rates can change at any time and are not directly comparable: some require minimum balances, others have tiers or depend on a paid plan. Unlike a term deposit, the money is available every day. To compare with what banks pay for locking money up, see the term deposit comparison by bank.
Run a fintech or a wallet? Reach readers who compare before opening an account.
See advertising optionsDigital account or prepaid wallet: what's the difference
A demand or checking account is a bank product: deposits carry the state guarantee of up to UF 200 per bank and it can receive a salary. A prepaid funds account is issued by a company listed in the CMF's Payment Card Issuers Registry, such as Mercado Pago Emisora or Los Andes Tarjetas de Prepago: it is used to pay, transfer and receive money, but it is not a bank deposit. Both are supervised by the CMF. If you need a chequebook, a credit line or an account for a high salary, see our guide to checking accounts by bank.
| Account | Published limit | Minimum age | Physical card |
|---|---|---|---|
| MACHBANK | No balance limit with validated data | 18 (minors with consent) | Yes, free at Bci branches |
| Tenpo | Transfer deposits up to CLP 60 million a month | 18 (Teenpo for minors) | Delivery from CLP 7,490 |
| Mercado Pago | No balance limit | 18 | Yes |
| Tapp | CLP 10 million balance per month | 18 | First one free |
| Copec Pay | Up to CLP 20 million balance | 18 | CLP 990 when paid with Copec Pay |
| Cuenta FAN | Deposits up to CLP 5 million a month | 18 (FAN for minors) | Yes |
| Dale | Maximum balance CLP 5 million | 18 | No |
| CuentaRUT | Maximum balance CLP 5 million | 12 | Yes |
Sources: official pages and contracts cited in the cost table; CuentaRUT, ChileAtiende fact sheet. If the CuentaRUT is your main account, its fees and limits are in our CuentaRUT 2026 guide.
- August 2023Falabella announces Fpay's closureIts features move to the Banco Falabella app.
- May 31, 2025Ripley's Chek shuts down
- January 2026Tenpo becomes the first CMF-authorized neobank
- April 15, 2026CuentaRUT stops charging for transfers
- May 1, 2026MACH Premium rises to 6% a year
- November 2026Mercado Pago reaches 9.6 million prepaid cards
How to open a digital account and what to check first
Almost all can be opened in the app with a valid ID card and biometric validation; Cuenta FAN also requires ClaveÚnica, the government login. Before choosing, check four things. First, where you will withdraw cash: if you withdraw often, a fee of about CLP 700 per withdrawal at another network's ATM adds up to more than CLP 8,000 a year with one withdrawal a month. Second, deposit and balance limits, especially if you will receive your salary. Third, whether the return has conditions, such as a minimum balance or a paid plan: MACH's Premium plan costs CLP 4,990 a month, almost CLP 60,000 a year. And fourth, what happens with the physical card: some deliver it free, others charge for shipping, and Dale and Copec Pay do not allow ATM withdrawals.
Which digital account suits each profile
- To earn on your balance: Copec Pay (6% a year in the first tier), Mercado Pago (up to 5%), MACHBANK Ahorro 24/7 (4.6%) and Tenpo (4.4%) publish rates on available balances.
- For frequent cash withdrawals: MACHBANK charges nothing (max. 2 a day); Tapp gives the first withdrawal of the month free, and all free until December 31, 2026; CuentaRUT is free at BancoEstado ATMs and CajaVecina.
- For purchases abroad: Mercado Pago (0% up to US$2,500), Tapp, Copec Pay, Tenpo and Banco Falabella's Cuenta Vista charge no fee according to their schedules; Cuenta FAN charges US$0.5 per purchase and CuentaRUT 1.9%.
- For minors: CuentaRUT from age 12; MACH, Tenpo (Teenpo) and Banco de Chile (FAN) have versions with parental consent; Banco Falabella's Cuenta Vista charges no fee for ages 14 to 25.
Some of these accounts also come with a credit card, such as Tenpo or MACHBANK. If you are looking for one, see our comparison of the best credit cards in Chile in 2026 and the November interest-free installment campaigns.
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 digital accounts
What is the best digital account in Chile in 2026?
It depends on how you use it. Ten of the 11 compared charge no maintenance fee; the differences are in withdrawals, purchases abroad and the return on balances, which ranges from 4.4% to 6% a year among those that publish it.
Are digital wallets regulated?
Yes. Prepaid card issuers must register with the CMF, which supervises them. Mercado Pago Emisora, for example, has been registered since November 5, 2021.
Is Tenpo a bank?
Yes. Since January 2026 Tenpo Bank has CMF authorization to operate as a bank and offers a checking account; new customers start with a demand account.
Can I receive my salary in a digital wallet?
It depends on each one's deposit limits: Cuenta FAN accepts up to CLP 5 million a month and Tapp a CLP 10 million monthly balance. Check the cap before giving your details to your employer.
What happened to Fpay and Chek?
Both closed: Fpay folded its features into Banco Falabella after the 2023 announcement, and Ripley's Chek stopped operating on May 31, 2025.
