Updated November 7, 2026. The question "CuentaRUT or demand account?" has a catch: the CuentaRUT is a demand account (cuenta vista), BancoEstado's. What changes from one to another are the fees, the requirements and the caps. The CuentaRUT has no maintenance fee, can be opened from age 12 without proving income and, since April 15, 2026, does not charge for transfers to other banks, according to the Ministry of Finance. In exchange, it has a maximum balance of CLP 5,000,000 and deposits of up to CLP 4,000,000 a month. This guide compares it with universally accessible demand accounts from seven other issuers.
View the data as a table
| Customers | 15.5 million |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| Maximum balance | $5,000,000 |
| Maximum monthly deposits | $4,000,000 |
CuentaRUT vs. demand account: the core difference
A demand account is an account for receiving, holding and moving money with a debit card, transfers and withdrawals, with no checkbook or credit line. Each bank offers its own under a brand name: Cuenta FAN at Banco de Chile, Más Lucas at Santander, Cuenta Prima at Bci. The CuentaRUT is BancoEstado's and stands out in three ways: the account number is the holder's RUT (national ID) without the check digit, it requires no income or credit history, and it has lower balance and deposit caps than a checking account. All share the same protection: according to the CMF, demand account balances carry a 100% guarantee if the bank is liquidated, broader protection than term deposits get, as we explained in our piece on the Ueno Bank crisis in Paraguay.
| CuentaRUT | Other universally accessible demand accounts | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | BancoEstado | Banco de Chile, Santander, Bci, Scotiabank, Banco Falabella, Banco Ripley, Coopeuch and others |
| Minimum age | 12, with a legal guardian if under 18 | Usually 18; some have youth versions |
| Income or debts | Not required | Several require no overdue or written-off debt; Bci requires CLP 400,000 income |
| Maintenance fee | $0 | From CLP 0 to over UF 0.2 a month, depending on account and use |
| Caps | CLP 5,000,000 balance and CLP 4,000,000 monthly deposits | Set by each contract |
| Account number | The RUT without the check digit | Assigned by the bank |
Sources: ChileAtiende (CuentaRUT, checked November 7, 2026); CMF, demand account simulator fees, in force as of July 31, 2025, fee and requirement sheets; CuentaRUT caps reported by BancoEstado to Meganoticias. The CMF requirements sheet lists 12 for women and 14 for men for the CuentaRUT; ChileAtiende states 12 for everyone.
Fees of the CuentaRUT and each demand account
Maintenance is only part of it. What weighs most each month are withdrawals at other banks' ATMs and purchases abroad. The table gathers what each issuer reports to the CMF; the CuentaRUT appears with the current fees from ChileAtiende. Use the search box to find an account or sort by column.
| CuentaRUT (BancoEstado) | 0 | 300 | 1.9% (min. US$0.5) |
| Cuenta FAN (Banco de Chile) | 0 | 702 | US$0.5 |
| Cuenta vista (Coopeuch) | 0 | 413 | $0 |
| Más Lucas (Santander) | 11,560 | 0 | CLP 0 or 3.5% |
| Cuenta Vista (Banco Falabella) | 10,321 | 400 | $0 |
| Cuenta vista (Banco Ripley) | 9,826 | 0 | $0 |
| Cuenta Prima (Bci) | 8,187 | 1,486 | 1.51% of the purchase |
| Cuenta Vista Individual (Scotiabank) | 2,456 | 4,715 | UF 0.0964 |
Source: CMF, demand account simulator fees, in force as of July 31, 2025; ChileAtiende. At Más Lucas, maintenance is CLP 0 if it is not linked to a checking account; at Banco Falabella it depends on the customer category and salary deposits. At Bci and Scotiabank the first four withdrawals each month are free. With the CuentaRUT, withdrawals are free at BancoEstado ATMs, tellers, BancoEstado Express and CajaVecina; the CLP 300 fee applies at other banks' ATMs.
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See advertising optionsHow to open a CuentaRUT or a demand account
For the CuentaRUT, a valid ID card, Chilean or foreign resident, is enough, according to ChileAtiende. It can be opened at branches or in the BancoEstado app; under-18s sign with their legal guardian, and through the app the parent must be a customer with the app active. No income, employment contract or debt check is required.
For other demand accounts the requirements vary, according to the CMF requirements sheet. Banco de Chile's Cuenta FAN requires being over 18, no overdue or written-off debt and a ClaveÚnica; Scotiabank's requires no overdue debts and proof of address; Banco Ripley's, proof of address; Coopeuch's, membership; Bci's Cuenta Prima, a minimum gross income of CLP 400,000; and Santander's Más Lucas, not having a checking account at the bank for the no-fee version.
| Youth account | Age | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| CuentaRUT (BancoEstado) | From 12 | With a legal guardian |
| FAN Clan (Banco de Chile) | 14 to 17 | At least one sponsoring parent |
| Banjoven (Banco de Chile) | Women from 12, men from 14 | Sworn statement and birth certificate |
| Joven demand account (Scotiabank) | Women 12 to 25, men 14 to 25 | Proof of address |
| Más Lucas Joven (Santander) | From 12 | CLP 0 maintenance fee |
Source: CMF, demand account simulator fees, in force as of July 31, 2025, requirements and fees sheets; ChileAtiende. Accounts for minors, with their costs and what each age can do, are covered in our guide to bank accounts for children and teenagers.
Transfers and purchases abroad: where costs differ most
Until April 2026, the CuentaRUT's main disadvantage against other demand accounts was the CLP 300 per transfer fee to other banks. For someone making 10 transfers a month, that was CLP 3,000 monthly or CLP 36,000 a year. With that fee gone since April 15, the cost gap moved to two operations: withdrawals at other banks' ATMs (CLP 300 each) and purchases from foreign merchants, including digital platforms that charge in dollars, where the CuentaRUT applies 1.9% of the purchase value, with a US$0.5 minimum.
An example: a US$10 monthly subscription costs about US$0.5 extra with the CuentaRUT (the minimum applies), US$0.5 with the Cuenta FAN and CLP 0 at Coopeuch, Banco Falabella or Banco Ripley, according to fees reported to the CMF. A US$200 purchase would carry a US$3.8 fee with the CuentaRUT and US$3.02 with Bci's Cuenta Prima (Pauta Financiera calculation). Frequent travelers or online shoppers can also check where to buy dollars.
CuentaRUT limits: when it falls short
The CLP 5,000,000 balance cap and the CLP 4,000,000 monthly deposit cap are the main reasons to look for another account. A transfer that would exceed either cap is not completed, according to BancoEstado as reported by Meganoticias. This affects people who receive a high salary, a severance payment, proceeds from a large sale or who save for several months in the same account. Fee details and how to open it are in our CuentaRUT 2026 guide.
No demand account pays meaningful interest and the CuentaRUT pays none. So rather than building a balance, it is better used for moving money while savings go into another product. Each bank's demand accounts, with their requirements and how many there are by region, are in our 2026 demand accounts comparison.
- 2006BancoEstado launches the CuentaRUTAn account for anyone with an ID card, with no proof of income.
- 2022-2025About 1.4 million new users
- Early 202615.5 million customers52% of the system's debit purchases over 12 months.
- April 15, 2026End of the CLP 300 fee on transfers to other banks
CuentaRUT or another demand account? What suits each profile
- Under-18s and people who cannot prove income: the CuentaRUT opens from age 12 with a legal guardian and no credit history.
- Anyone receiving more than CLP 4 million a month: needs another demand account or a checking account without those caps.
- Frequent withdrawals at any ATM: Más Lucas and Banco Ripley's demand account report free withdrawals.
- Online shoppers on foreign sites: Coopeuch, Banco Falabella and Banco Ripley report CLP 0 per foreign purchase; the CuentaRUT charges 1.9%.
- Those wanting salary-linked perks: some banks cut fees when salary is deposited; we compare them in best accounts for your salary.
Frequently asked questions about CuentaRUT and demand accounts
Is the CuentaRUT a demand account?
Yes. It is BancoEstado's demand account: used with a debit card, with no checkbook or credit line, and its number is the RUT without the check digit.
Which demand account has no maintenance fee?
The CuentaRUT, Banco de Chile's Cuenta FAN and Coopeuch's demand account report CLP 0; so does Más Lucas if not linked to a checking account.
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.
Can I have a CuentaRUT and another demand account at the same time?
Yes. According to the CMF, Chile has more demand accounts than people over 15, because many people hold more than one.
This information is journalistic and educational, not financial advice. Check the conditions and the total cost (CAE) with the institution before signing up.
