Banco Económico review
Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Banco Económico is a Bolivian bank whose debit card costs nothing to keep, so it suits anyone who wants a no-fee Visa for everyday spending. It is regulated by ASFI in Bolivia, runs on the debit model, and adds a virtual card option to its multi-currency offering.
Key facts
- Best for
- Bolivian customers who want a no-fee Visa debit card for daily spending.
- Monthly fee
- BOB 0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card type
- Debit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card network
- Visa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Banco Económico (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Bolivia (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 1991 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Multi-currency, Virtual card
- Official website
- baneco.com.bo
Credit cards
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- A monthly fee of BOB 0 on the debit card, so the account costs nothing to hold
- A visa debit card, the network most widely accepted on site at 58.6%
- Multi-currency and virtual card options in the same multi currency and virtual card set, useful if you shop or pay online
- Support by phone and help centre, with phone and a help centre to fall back on
Cons
- It is a local Bolivian institution, so the BOB 0 price and the visa card are aimed at customers inside Bolivia
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, with no chat or email listed
- The debit card spends your own balance, so it adds nothing to your credit file or credit history
Who it suits
- Customers in Bolivia who bank with a local institution and want a straightforward Visa debit card
- Shoppers who want a virtual card alongside a physical one for online payments
- Anyone who wants to hold a card account with a BOB 0 monthly fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Travellers who need one card to spend across several markets, where Wise covers more of the list
- Anyone looking for a credit card rather than a debit card, so Varo or Chime fit better
Who runs it
Banco Económico is the legal entity behind the card, and its home market is Bolivia. It has been trading since 1991, so it is an established local bank rather than a new entrant. The ASFI listing in Bolivia covers the institution, and cardholders are dealing with a regulated domestic bank. Day to day help comes through phone and help centre, which lists a phone line and a help centre.
How Banco Económico compares
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 8.9
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 8.8
9.2 vs 8.5
9.2 vs 8.5
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 8.8
9.2 vs 8.8
9.2 vs 8.7
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 8.9
9.2 vs 8.8
9.2 vs 9.6
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 8.8
9.2 vs 8.8- 9.2 vs 8.8
- 9.2 vs 8.8
9.2 vs 8.8- 9.2 vs 8.8
9.2 vs 8.5
9.2 vs 8.5
9.2 vs 8.5
9.2 vs 8.3
9.2 vs 8.2
9.2 vs 8.0
9.2 vs 8.0
Where Banco Económico is available
- Available
- Bolivia
- Licence in Bolivia
- ASFI, checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Banco Económico debit card cost to keep?+
The monthly fee is BOB 0, so there is nothing to pay for holding the card each month. That sits alongside a median of €0 across the cards listed here, so the card is among the cheaper accounts to keep open. Spending still costs what you spend.
Is this a debit card or a credit card?+
It is a debit card, which means purchases draw on money already in your account. There is no borrowing and no interest to pay on the balance. If you want to build a credit record instead, a secured credit card such as Varo or Chime is the route.
What payment network does the card run on?+
The card sits on the visa network, which is the most common choice among the cards compared here at 58.6%. That means it should work in most places that take Visa. You would need a separate arrangement for any other network.
Can I get a virtual card as well?+
Yes, a virtual card is one of the multi currency and virtual card available with the account, alongside multi-currency. A virtual card is handy for online shopping because it keeps your main card details off sites you do not trust. Debit cards make up 74.3% of the listings here, with virtual cards far rarer at 5.3%.
Is Banco Económico regulated?+
Yes, the bank is licensed in Bolivia and supervised by ASFI. As a licensed domestic bank, it is not a standalone fintech wrapping someone else's account. If your money is with a foreign institution instead, that provider's own regulator applies rather than ASFI.
How do I get help if something goes wrong?+
Support runs through phone and help centre, which lists a phone line and a help centre. There is no chat or email listed, so a phone call is the fastest route for most issues. A help centre is the most common support channel on this site at 75.6%, so you are not alone in using one.
Does the card handle more than one currency?+
Multi-currency is one of the multi currency and virtual card listed for the card, so you can hold and use more than one currency. That is useful if you receive money from abroad or pay suppliers in another currency. It is a common feature, appearing in 34.9% of the cards here.
Can I open this if I live outside Bolivia?+
The card comes from a bank headquartered in Bolivia, so it is built for customers banking there. The free monthly fee of BOB 0 applies to the Bolivian account rather than to any foreign market. If you need one account to hold several currencies across borders, Wise is the better fit.
Sources
- baneco.com.bo checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity, Licences
“operates in La Paz, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Tarija, Sucre, Oruro, and Potosí”
- baneco.com.bo/tarjeta-debito checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Features, Monthly fee, Card network, Support channels
“International network, Digital Card Option available”
Compiled from 2 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee, Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.
Related by the facts
Banco Económico
Bolivian customers who want a no-fee Visa debit card for daily spending.