Banks & payments
Opening a U.S. dollar account at a Venezuelan bank
Official read in the BCV text, the Gazette or the primary source. Reported from press or firms, with its date (a bank's or company's own official page about its service counts as Official). Unconfirmed no reliable source: ask the provider.
Customers of Venezuelan banks can usually open a foreign-currency (USD or EUR) account with no minimum balance, often online. Banco de Venezuela opens one from its online banking; Provincial offers USD or EUR checking with no opening amount. The central bank sets the fees, for example a 3% minimum and 3.8% maximum to withdraw cash.
By bank
- Banco de Venezuela: no minimum, no interest; opened in BDVenlínea (Divisas › Apertura) if you already have a bolívar account; same debit card Official.
- BBVA Provincial: USD or EUR checking, no opening amount, non-interest-bearing, with a foreign-currency debit card Official.
- Banesco, Mercantil, BNC: 2026 requirements Unconfirmed (older reports: Banesco «Cuenta Verde», Mercantil required 6 months as a customer) Reported.
Fees set by the BCV
From the schedule in force since September 22, 2026 Official: cash withdrawal 3% minimum, 3.8% maximum; chip debit card Bs 3,314; outgoing international transfer EUR 21 to the Americas, EUR 30 elsewhere; receiving or sending electronic remittances up to 4% (minimum EUR 2 equivalent). Foreign-currency payments through the Venezuelan banking system or to special taxpayers also pay the 3% IGTF Reported.
Who can open one
Exchange Agreement No. 1 (2018) lets resident individuals and companies hold foreign-currency accounts with no minimum (arts. 32-33, per a law-firm memo) Reported. Whether non-residents can open one as individuals Unconfirmed.
Questions people ask
Can I open a dollar account in Venezuela if I live in the U.S.?
Exchange Agreement No. 1 of 2018 allows resident individuals and companies to hold foreign-currency accounts. Whether a non-resident individual can open one is not confirmed: ask the bank directly.
What does it cost to withdraw dollars in cash?
The BCV fee schedule sets a 3% minimum and 3.8% maximum for cash withdrawals from foreign-currency accounts (up to 0.80% for special taxpayers). Foreign-currency payments through the Venezuelan banking system or to special taxpayers also carry the 3% IGTF tax.
Sources checked on November 8, 2026
- BCV — fee schedule in force from Sep 22, 2026 (foreign-currency accounts)
- Banco de Venezuela — foreign-currency account
- BBVA Provincial — foreign-currency account
- Travieso Evans — memo on Exchange Agreement No. 1 (2018)
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