Why Us?

Chile is a country in the extreme south part of America of more than 4.200 kilometers length, which allows it to offer a diverse territorial scene. This is how it has endless coasts, lakes, volcanoes, glaciers, valleys, native forest on the south area and dry deserts on the extreme north. Added to that are, amongst others, the imposing Andes Mountains and the great see richness of the Pacific Ocean.

But Chile is not only that. Besides its natural conditions it has an open and solid economy, which has let it to be outlined as one of the most advanced and recognized economies of Latin America. With an essentially exporting profile, chilean economy is supported in its exporting character, mainly copper, cellulose, wood and food and agriculture products like horticultural, dairy and fishing. Also, its wine industry – of worldwide renowned prestige – has obtained a strong importance over the last decades.

Proving its economic liberalization policies, Chile is the country with the greatest amount of free trade agreements in the world, keeping treaties with economic regions that represent nearly 90% of the world´s population. Thus, agreements like the ones with Nafta, European Union and China stand out, which have allowed it to be one of the world´s most competitive and globalized economies.

Banking and Payment methods in Chile

Chile – which has a population of over 16 million inhabitants – has a banking system made up of 26 banks (21 local and 5 subsidiaries of foreign organizations). In 2008 it had a GDP of US$ 169.919 millions (US$ 9.698 per capita).

At the moment, and just like a large part of the world, Chile has several payment methods that are part of the supply of Banco de Chile:

• Money Use: in spite of the fact that many believe that money is limited to bills and coins, is also exists in other support, like deposits that people maintain in banks. Thus, it is possible to make payments – for example – directly from the Checking Account through a check or credit card, replacing this way cash. This can be made both physically or virtually through several transfer mechanisms of electronic funds.
• Checks: this method allows to draw money that is kept in the bank´s Checking Account.
• Debit Card: it is any card that allows to make money payments that a person has deposited in a Checking Account or sight accounts. In Chile the participating businesses net affiliated to debit is called "RedCompra".
• Credit Card: it is any document that allows to acquire goods and services in institutions affiliated to the corresponding system by means of the issuing bank´s credit. Thus, one can make purchases and pay them later. Banco de Chile offers its clients different credit cards – Visa, MasterCard and Diners – with several benefits depending on the client´s preferences.

Why choosing an account in Banco de Chile

There are many reasons for being part of Banco de Chile. We offer our clients personalized atention, with costumized services, depending on the objectives of every person.

Banco de Chile counts with a modern technological platform and a great portfolio of financial products and services for its thousands of clients, including large, medium and small-sized companies. This, through its vast national network of more than 230 branches and over 800 ATM´s.

More than a century or experience on the local market has allowed Banco de Chile to be the leader of the chilean financial market. Since 1893, year of its fundation, it has distinguished itself as one of the main and more sucessful banks in terms of asset return and profitability for its stockholders. Nowadays, Banco de Chile is the main bank of the national market in terms of local capital and the second one of all financial organizations.

Banco de Chile as a wide network of international services. Since the nineties it has representation offices in Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Mexico City. And since 2008, together with Citigroup has a Cooperation Agreement and a Global Connectivy Agreement, which consider the mutual support for the execution, amongst others, of businesses related to payment and management of international accounting services, equity custody for foreign investors, investment banking and international Checking Accounts.

Besides, Banco de Chile signed a licence contract that allows a limited use of the Citi brand. Thus, the Banco Edwards branch network assumes the new brand "Banco Edwards Citi".

How to obtain a Checking Account

For opening a Checking Account in Banco de Chile, the requirements – as established by the Superintendencia de Bancos e Instituciones Financieras (SBIF) – are the following:

• Prove an identity through the Cédula de Identidad (identity card) and the RUT (taxpayer number) of the interested person. This procedure is also required for foreigners.
• Recent photography, passport sized
• Right-thumb fingerprint on the personal file kept by the bank.
• Updated banking reports of the interested person.
• Record of the signature that will be used on checks.
• Submitting background related to the activity and reliability, as incomes, assets and debts.
• Verification of the client´s home address.
• Signing a document with the general conditions about the Checking Account that is being opened.