The Financial System Supervisory Authority of Bolivia issued new rules requiring banks to immediately remove restrictions on the use of debit and credit cards for online purchases and payments abroad, restoring access for more than 2.7 million users. Debit cards can again be used for e-commerce purchases, foreign POS payments and cash withdrawals at ATMs abroad, with banks required to allow spending of at least USD 500 per month and permitted to set higher limits based on their policies and foreign-currency availability. Credit cards may be used without restrictions, subject to the approved credit line and the cardholder’s repayment capacity. The rules also prohibit additional commissions for foreign or online card use and require USD-denominated transactions to be converted into bolivianos using the US dollar reference rate published daily by the Central Bank of Bolivia, without additional surcharges. If a bank does not provide the minimum debit-card limit, blocks a card without justification, charges extra fees or fails to apply the Central Bank reference rate, customers are directed to file a first-stage complaint with the bank and, if unresolved, escalate the complaint to ASFI.
Financial System Supervisory Authority of Bolivia 2026-04-10
Bolivia's Financial System Supervisory Authority restores overseas and online card transactions and mandates a minimum USD 500 monthly debit-card spending limit
The Financial System Supervisory Authority of Bolivia has ordered banks to immediately lift restrictions on the use of debit and credit cards for online and foreign transactions, restoring access for more than 2.7 million users. Banks must allow debit-card spending of at least USD 500 per month abroad, remove additional commissions on foreign or online use, and apply the Central Bank of Bolivia’s US dollar reference rate without surcharges, with a complaints process set out for non-compliance.