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- Credit/Debit Cards in Chile
Last updated on 19/06/2026
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Several types of cards coexist in Chile, and the payment landscape has been evolving rapidly in 2024-2025. Debit cards, which come with checking accounts (cuenta corriente) and with BancoEstado's CuentaRUT, are now Chile's leading payment method, accounting for 37% of point-of-sale transactions. Credit cards are available on request from banks, and big retailers like Falabella and Jumbo issue their own consumer credit cards. On top of that, digital wallets such as Mach (Banco Bci), Tenpo, Global66, and Klap keep gaining ground, and contactless payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay are widely supported.
Debit cards
A debit card covers most of daily life in Chile. You can withdraw cash from ATMs and pay in shops through RedCompra, Chile's leading card scheme with 44% market share, accepted nearly everywhere. Online, debit cards work through WebPay Plus, the primary payment gateway operated by Transbank. RedCompra cards now support contactless payments as well as PIN, and you can load them into digital wallets for mobile payments.
Credit cards
Credit cards in Chile work like an extra account separated from your current account. The bank gives you a limit (usually $500,000 at the beginning) that you can use as you want in shops or to pay online. This limit is called your cupo in Spanish.
The amount used is debited from your bank account once a month at a fixed date. If you exceed the limit, the card stops working until the next month. You can still call your bank if needed. They will "force" the debit on your account, and the next day, you will have your full cupo available again.
Take care:
Do not use your credit card to withdraw cash at an ATM. The bank will charge you an expensive "cash advance" fee (around 7% of the amount)
Consumer credit cards are very popular in Chile. Yet, you should check the interest rates on these credit cards, which can be very high.
When you pay by credit card, you will often be asked "con cuotas" or "sin cuotas". This means: "Do you want to pay cash, or in installments?" This happens even if you pay 5000/10000 pesos. Again, you should check the interest rate, although most shops offer payments up to 6 installments without interest.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cards in Chile
Paying by card in Chile
Yes, very. Bank credit cards, retailer credit cards (Falabella, Jumbo, etc.), and installment payments (cuotas) are everywhere, and cashiers will ask "con cuotas o sin cuotas" even for small purchases. Debit is even more common: it is Chile's leading payment method at the point of sale.
Day to day, a debit card. RedCompra, the local card scheme, is accepted in nearly every shop, and contactless payments (including Apple Pay and Google Pay) are widely supported. Keep some cash for small street purchases, and avoid withdrawing cash with a credit card, which triggers an expensive cash advance fee.
Generally yes. Visa and Mastercard debit cards issued abroad work at Chilean ATMs and in most shops, and foreign cards are accepted on WebPay, the main online payment gateway. Tell your bank you are in Chile before traveling so payments are not blocked, and expect ATM withdrawal fees on top of your own bank's charges.
