The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA) has officially announced the adjustment to implement installment payments in dollars, allowing payments with debit cards and QR codes in U.S. currency. The measure, which was announced by the entity in mid-January, has been regulated through Communication "A" 8180/2025, published in the Official Bulletin, representing a new step in the currency competition promoted by the management of Javier Milei.
According to the regulation, the possibility of making purchases in installments with dollars will be enabled using recurring immediate debit (DEBIN), in a variant called "scheduled DEBIN." This modality will come into effect starting April 1 of this year, with a deadline for implementation by February 28 for the entities involved to adapt and begin offering this mechanism.
Regarding the regulatory details, it is established that the installments and their amounts are fixed and predetermined, requiring individual adherence for each payment plan and prior authorization from the receiving customer. Once approved, adherence is immediate, and upon completing the payment of the last installment, there is no need to request cancellation of the plan, which can be requested at any time by both the receiving customer and the ordering customer.
The BCRA has also defined that reversals and chargebacks will only apply to the first installment, and that account summaries must identify these debits with the label "scheduled DEBIN," including details such as the name of the ordering customer, the amount, and the corresponding installment number. Additionally, it has been established that the scheduled DEBIN cannot be used for activities related to lotteries, casinos, or other games of chance.
On the other hand, the monetary entity has communicated that the initiative to incorporate debit card payments in pesos and dollars into the interoperable QR system seeks to expand possibilities and enhance the experience for customers and businesses, allowing them to make and receive payments simply by scanning any QR code. It is emphasized that debit card payments in U.S. dollars must be available for businesses that choose to accept this payment modality.
