The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic is preparing to reactivate the automatic debit for loan repayments After five years of regulatory slowdown, the measure, announced by one of its directors at an industry forum, aims to improve loan repayment rates in a context of financial strain and payment delays.
The ban came in 2020, with the Communication A 6909neighbourhood, in the heart of pandemicand left fintech companies without their main collection tool. Today, with delinquency rates rising and households more strained by the indebtednessThe agency is considering reversing that decision and reorganizing a key mechanism for digital credit.
Timeline and scope of the measure
During the Argentina Fintech Forum, the director of the BCRA Pedro Inchauspe He indicated that the authorization could be published in a short period of time, around a monthIf no technical issues arise, the goal is for the installments to be debited on a scheduled basis from the bank account (CBU) from the client, with prior authorization, reducing the risk of non-payment.
The ecosystem is also pushing for an updated version that includes payment from virtual wallets (CVU) and that minimizes friction in the user experience. According to industry experts, integrating direct debit into the digital payment system would allow for broader and more efficient adoption.
Why it's back at the center of the debate
The deterioration of the indicators creates urgency. According to reports from the Central Bank itself, in August the proportion of loans with payment problems reached 6,6%, the highest value in 17 years. It is a sign of strain on credit, especially outside the traditional banking system.
Another financial inclusion report shows that in June 2025 only the 86,5% The percentage of debtors who fulfilled their obligations on time and in full decreased by 2,5 and 3 percentage points compared to December 2024 in both the number of payers and the volume of payments. The decline was more pronounced among those who owe... non-financial suppliers that among bank customers.
Voices in favor of the fintech sector
For various technology companies, the inability to use direct debit created competitive asymmetries compared to the banking sector, which maintained automatic payment collection tools. Industry executives estimate that restoring this mechanism could lower the blackberry between 2 and 4 points and cut operating costs.
Businessmen like MatÃas Friedberg They emphasize that the redesign must take into account the current reality: today most of the transfers It involves CVU, and users are demanding processes with fewer authorization steps. Furthermore, they point out that the output The use of DEBIN as a daily tool made collection more expensive and difficult.
User alerts and traditional banking
Organizations like Tenants Group y City Scene They expressed reservations: they believe that restoring automatic debit may stifle domestic economies already fragile. Spokeswomen like Luci Cavallero They talk about a massive over-indebtedness which strongly affects the working class and women caregivers.
From traditional banks, there is conditional support. strict controlsThey recall episodes of abusive practices of entities that were not regulated in the past and are asking for supervision on fees, transparency and user protection to avoid improper charges and subsequent conflicts.
How would automatic billing work?
In practice, the client grants a initial authorization so that the entity can collect the fee on the agreed date, periodically, from its account. The scheme benefits the predictability From both sides: it simplifies payments and allows for planned recoveries, although it can add rigidity if there are no reprogramming options.
- For usersMore convenience and fewer oversights, but the importance of checking balances and having communication channels reversal/claim.
- For fintech: better collectabilitylower management costs and a basis for offering potentially more competitive credit terms.
It is important to distinguish between direct debit y DEBIN (immediate debit). The first programs authorized periodic charges; the second executed one-off collections with the client's consent, a tool that lost prominence and whose absence increased collection friction for the non-banking segment.
The European mirror and the reference for Spain
In the eurozone, SEPA direct debit is a widespread mechanism for recurring charges and has safeguards such as the right to Return within established deadlines and clear instructions. In Spain, direct debit payments for loans and services are common, with obligations to transparency and prior notification. Although the Argentine regulatory context is different, the debate revolves around the same balance: facilitating automatic collection without relaxing the Consumer protection.
With the possible return of direct debit, Argentina seeks to alleviate the pressure of the delinquency and give fintech a boost, while increasing demands for oversight to prevent a repeat of past excesses. What is decided in the coming weeks will determine how the burden is distributed between financial inclusion, competition and protection of those who request credit.
