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Banco General review

Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Banco General suits customers in Panama who want a long-established bank with a multi-currency debit card. Cost is the drawback: a monthly fee of $2.68 on the debit card, against a site median of €0, and a currency conversion fee of 3.21%.

Key facts

Best for
Panamanian customers who want everyday banking from a long established local bank and hold several currencies.
Monthly fee
$2.68 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Currency conversion fee
3.21% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Card type
Debit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Card network
Visa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Banco General, S.A. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Panama (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
1955 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Chat, Phone (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Multi-currency
Official website
bgeneral.com

Credit cards

APR
14% to 24% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Currency conversion fee
3.21% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Banco General, S.A. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Panama (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
1955 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Chat, Phone (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Multi-currency

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App Store
Elsewhere
WikidataXLinkedIn

Pros and cons

Pros

  • A multi-currency debit card, useful for anyone spending or travelling outside Panama
  • Visa network acceptance through visa
  • Support runs on chat and phone only, with phone and chat covered
  • A long history, founded in 1955

Cons

  • A monthly fee of $2.68 on the debit card, above the site median of €0
  • A currency conversion fee of 3.21%, above the site median of 1%
  • Support runs on chat and phone only, so there is no email or help centre listed
Banco General

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Scored 9.0 / 10 by DebitCue.

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Who it suits

  • Customers resident in Panama who bank with an established local institution
  • Anyone who keeps a multi-currency balance and wants a Visa debit card
  • Card customers comfortable paying a small monthly fee for the account

Who should look elsewhere

  • Travellers who want low currency conversion costs, since the fee is 3.21% against a site median of 1%
  • Anyone wanting a fee free debit card, such as the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card or Chime Card, both at $0 and $0
  • Customers who need written email support, as help runs on chat and phone only

Who runs it

Banco General, S.A. is the legal entity behind the account, and its headquarters sit in Panama. The bank was founded in 1955, so it has a long operating history in its home market. Customer service is handled through chat and phone, which covers phone and chat, and those are the channels listed for account help.

How Banco General compares

Where Banco General is available

Available
Panama

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Banco General debit card cost each month?+

The debit card carries a monthly fee of $2.68. That is above the site median of €0, and it ranks low on cost at 360 among 419 brands. A card with no monthly fee may suit casual spenders better.

What does it cost to spend money abroad?+

Currency conversion on the debit card is charged at 3.21%, compared with a site median of 1%. Its rank on currency conversion fee is 237 of 259 brands, so frequent foreign spending works out expensive here.

Can I hold more than one currency?+

Yes. The debit card is listed as a multi-currency card, which suits anyone who earns or spends in a currency other than the PA dollar. You can keep balances across currencies rather than converting at the card's rate.

Which network does the card run on?+

The card runs on visa, which is accepted in most markets worldwide. Visa is the most common network in the wider comparison, with 58.6% of brands on the site using it.

Who regulates the bank?+

No regulator is listed for Banco General in the information available here, so the protection scheme and deposit cover cannot be described. Check the bank's own disclosures for its regulatory status and any deposit protection before you open an account.

How do I contact customer support?+

Support runs on chat and phone, so phone and chat are the channels listed. On the wider site, phone is a common route, used by 67.3% of brands, while email is even more widespread at 58.1%.

Does Banco General also offer credit cards?+

Yes, alongside the debit card there is a credit card offering with an APR of 14% to 24%, which compares with a site median of 20.97%. The rates sit around typical credit card territory, so check the figure that applies to your own product.

What type of card is this?+

The card in this profile is a debit card, drawn from your own account balance rather than a credit line. Debit is the most common type on the site at 74.3%, so spending is capped by what you hold.

Sources

Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.

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