USD business account in Peru
A Peruvian company can open a US dollar account at any major Peruvian bank and keep its dollars without converting them, because Article 64 of Peru's Constitution guarantees the free holding and disposal of foreign currency. It can also use a USD account abroad in its own name, if the provider accepts Peruvian companies. This guide covers the options, the account details buyers need, published bank fees, documents and where stablecoins sit under Peruvian rules.
Also available in: Español
- Article 64 of Peru's Constitution states that the State guarantees the free holding and disposal of foreign currency, so a Peruvian company may receive, keep and pay out US dollars.
- About 26% of the liquidity of Peru's depository institutions was in US dollars in September 2026, according to the Banco Central de Reserva del Perú (BCRP).
- The CCI is a 20-digit interbank account code used for transfers between accounts at different Peruvian banks, and BBVA Perú accepts either its 20-digit account number or the CCI for transfers from abroad.
- BBVA Perú publishes an incoming transfer fee for companies of US$25.00 up to US$10,000, and 0.25% above that with a minimum of US$25.00 and a maximum of US$30.00.
- Under SBS Resolution 02648-2024, virtual asset service providers in Peru are obliged entities supervised by the UIF-Perú, the financial intelligence unit, for anti-money laundering purposes.
- Airwallex does not list Peru among eligible countries for business registration, while Wise lists Peru among countries where customers can hold money.
How a Peruvian business can hold and receive US dollars
Peru is one of the easiest markets in Latin America for a company that wants to work in US dollars. Article 64 of the 1993 Constitution states that the State guarantees the free holding and disposal of foreign currency. Peruvian banks offer savings and current accounts in dollars as standard products, and many companies price, borrow and pay suppliers in dollars.
A business in Peru has four practical ways to hold and receive US dollars:
- A dollar account at a Peruvian bank. A foreign buyer pays by SWIFT, the international network banks use for cross-border payments, identified by an 8 or 11 character bank code. Local customers pay by interbank transfer using the CCI.
- A USD account abroad held by the Peruvian company. Some international providers open accounts with US routing and account numbers for companies registered outside the United States. Eligibility depends on each provider's country list.
- A US company with its own US bank account. Some exporters form a US entity to contract with US customers. This adds a second company with its own tax filings.
- Stablecoins through a provider. USDC and USDT are crypto assets designed to track the US dollar. Peru supervises the firms that exchange, transfer or hold them for anti-money laundering purposes.
| Option | Account holder | How dollars arrive | Main point to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar account at a Peruvian bank | The Peruvian company | SWIFT wire from abroad; CCI transfer locally | Bank's published incoming transfer fee and correspondent deductions |
| USD account abroad in the company's name | The Peruvian company | ACH, Fedwire or SWIFT, depending on the provider | Provider eligibility for Peru |
| US company route | A separate US entity | ACH, Fedwire or SWIFT | US formation, Employer Identification Number (EIN) and US tax filings |
| Stablecoins (USDC, USDT) | Company, through a provider | Blockchain transfer | Provider's status with the UIF-Perú; not a bank deposit |
Comparison of option types, not a ranking. Sources: Constitución Política del Perú, Article 64; SBS Resolution 02648-2024, as published on 29 October 2026.
Peruvian rules on receiving, holding and paying USD
The constitutional guarantee in Article 64 covers both holding and disposing of foreign currency. In practice, a Peruvian company may receive export proceeds in dollars, keep them in Peru or abroad, and pay suppliers in dollars, without a rule requiring it to sell them for soles.
The dollar is part of everyday business. BCRP data show that the share of the liquidity of depository institutions held in dollars, which the BCRP calls the dollarization coefficient, was 28% in January 2025 and 26% in September 2026.
| Activity | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving USD from a foreign buyer | Free to receive into a dollar account; no requirement to convert to soles | Constitution, Article 64 |
| Holding USD in a Peruvian bank | Free; banks offer dollar savings and current accounts | Constitution, Article 64 |
| Holding USD in an account abroad | Free to hold and dispose of foreign currency | Constitution, Article 64 |
| Paying a supplier abroad in USD | Free; the bank applies its own fees and checks | Constitution, Article 64; bank tariffs |
| Converting dollars to soles | At the bank's exchange rate; BBVA Perú offers a specialized rate on transfers from abroad | BBVA Perú |
| Using a crypto asset provider | The provider must meet UIF-Perú anti-money laundering rules | SBS Resolution 02648-2024 |
Sources: Constitución Política del Perú de 1993, Article 64; BCRPData series PN00025MM; BBVA Perú; SBS Resolution 02648-2024. As published on 29 October 2026.
Freedom to hold dollars does not remove tax and customs paperwork. Exports and imports still go through customs with SUNAT, Peru's tax and customs authority, and banks still ask for the invoice behind large payments. Keep the paperwork for each transaction together so the bank can match the payment to it.
The CCI and the details a foreign buyer needs
Every account at a Peruvian bank has an account number and a CCI. The CCI (Código de Cuenta Interbancario) is a 20-digit code used to transfer money between accounts at different Peruvian banks. For a payment from abroad, the buyer's bank sends a SWIFT transfer, and your bank tells you which identifier to use. BBVA Perú, for example, publishes the details a sender must provide for a company receiving a transfer from abroad.
| Field | BBVA Perú published instruction |
|---|---|
| Beneficiary bank | BBVA PERÚ |
| SWIFT code | BCONPEPLXXX |
| Bank address | Av. República de Panamá 3055 |
| Beneficiary account | The 20-digit BBVA account number, or the CCI |
| Currencies received | USD, SEK, MXN, CHF, JPY, CAD, GBP and EUR |
| Incoming fee up to US$10,000 | US$25.00 |
| Incoming fee above US$10,000 | 0.25% of the amount, minimum US$25.00, maximum US$30.00 |
| Receipt | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with an email notice when funds are credited |
Source: BBVA Perú, Transferencias del Exterior for companies, as published on 29 October 2026. The bank describes its fee calculations as indicative; confirm with its tariff schedule.
Ask the buyer to send dollars to your dollar account, so the payment is not converted on arrival. On a SHA payment, where sender and receiver share fees, the US correspondent bank can also deduct a fee before the money reaches Peru. A correspondent bank is the US bank that holds dollars for your Peruvian bank and passes the payment on. For the full invoice checklist, see our guide for Peruvian exporters receiving USD payments.
Foreign USD accounts: who accepts Peruvian companies
A USD account abroad is useful when US buyers prefer to pay by ACH, the low-cost US domestic bank transfer system, rather than by international wire. For a Peruvian company, the first question is whether the provider accepts companies registered in Peru. Check the provider's own eligibility page.
| Provider | What its own page says | What it means for a Peruvian company |
|---|---|---|
| Airwallex | A business must be registered in a supported country or territory; Peru is not on the list | Not available to a company registered in Peru |
| Wise | Peru is on the list of countries where customers can hold money in a Wise account | Confirm business account features and USD account details with Wise |
| Mercury | The company must be formed and registered in the United States or a US territory; founders can live abroad | Only through a US entity |
Sources: Airwallex Help Centre, Eligible Countries and Territories; Wise Help Centre, where can I open a Wise balance; Mercury Support, eligibility and requirements. As published on 29 October 2026.
The US company route suits a business that sells mainly to US customers and wants a US contracting entity. It requires forming the entity in a US state, obtaining an EIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and identifying the company's beneficial owners to the US bank. It adds US tax filings and does not replace the Peruvian company's own obligations with SUNAT.
Documents banks and providers ask for
Peruvian banks identify a company by its RUC, the taxpayer registration number issued by SUNAT, and by its registration in the public registry. The list below is typical; each bank and provider sets its own.
| Stage | Typical documents |
|---|---|
| Opening a dollar account at a Peruvian bank | RUC; public deed of incorporation and bylaws; registry certificate showing the current legal representatives and their powers; identity documents of signatories; beneficial owner information; proof of address |
| Opening a USD account abroad | Incorporation documents and bylaws, with translation if asked; RUC; identity documents and proof of address of directors and main owners; description of the business, customers and expected volumes |
| Receiving payment for an export | Commercial invoice; export customs declaration; transport document such as the bill of lading; sales contract or purchase order |
| Paying a supplier abroad | Supplier invoice; supplier's bank name, SWIFT code and account number; purpose of payment |
Typical checklist; requirements vary by bank and provider. As published on 29 October 2026.
BBVA Perú lists a SWIFT message affiliation form among the additional documents for companies receiving transfers from abroad. Ask your bank whether you need to sign one before your first inbound payment.
Freelancers and sole traders
The constitutional guarantee applies to individuals as well as companies. A freelancer invoicing foreign clients can open a personal dollar savings account at a Peruvian bank and receive SWIFT transfers into it. At BBVA Perú, the requirement to receive transfers from abroad is to be a client with a savings or current account.
Freelancers should give clients the dollar account, not the soles account, so the payment is not converted on arrival. They should also keep each invoice for their tax filings with SUNAT. A business that has become a company, such as a sociedad anónima cerrada (SAC), should use an account in the company's name.
Where stablecoins sit legally in Peru
Peru treats crypto asset businesses as anti-money laundering subjects rather than licensing the assets. Supreme Decree 006-2023-JUS added virtual asset service providers (PSAV in Spanish) to the list of entities that must report to the UIF-Perú, the financial intelligence unit within the Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (SBS). SBS Resolution 02648-2024, dated 30 July 2024 and published on 1 August 2024, set the rules they must follow.
The resolution covers any person or company in Peru that, as a business, exchanges virtual assets for legal tender or for other virtual assets, transfers them, holds them in custody, or provides financial services linked to their issue or sale. It defines virtual assets as digital representations of value that can be traded or transferred digitally and used for payments or investment, excluding digital representations of legal tender. It states that it does not regulate the underlying technology. Providers must appoint a compliance officer, identify their clients and their beneficial owners, keep a record of operations and report suspicious ones. The chapter on the travel rule, which covers the sender and recipient information that travels with each transfer, took effect two years after publication.
For a Peruvian company, this means: use a provider that is registered with the UIF-Perú as an obliged entity, expect it to ask for your RUC and beneficial owners, and treat a stablecoin balance as a crypto asset held with a provider, not a bank deposit.
Where a Helm USD account fits
Helm serves companies registered in Peru. A Helm account gives the company USD account details in its own name, with a US routing and account number that receives ACH, Fedwire and SWIFT. Fedwire is the Federal Reserve's same-day system for large payments. A US buyer pays the invoice as it would a domestic supplier, and the company can keep the balance in dollars or move it to its dollar account in Peru.
- Collecting from US buyers by ACH or Fedwire, held in USD or converted.
- Paying suppliers abroad through international payments by SWIFT and by local rails in the supplier's currency where available, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before sending.
- Stablecoins: receive, send and convert USDC and USDT to USD inside the account.
- Trade finance: supplier finance, receivables finance and working capital, arranged case by case.
Each company has a named account manager, and review questions are answered in writing within one business day. Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank, and accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens. For the reverse direction, see our guide on how to pay suppliers in Peru, and for a fully dollarized neighbor, our guide to a USD business account in Ecuador.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
Can a Peruvian company open a US dollar account?
Yes. Peruvian banks offer savings and current accounts in US dollars to companies as standard products. Article 64 of the Constitution guarantees the free holding and disposal of foreign currency, so the company does not have to convert its dollars to soles.
Does Peru have exchange controls?
Peru's Constitution guarantees the free holding and disposal of foreign currency in Article 64. Companies can receive, keep and pay out US dollars, while banks apply their own fees and checks to each transfer.
Do Peruvian exporters have to convert dollars to soles?
No. A Peruvian exporter can receive payment into a dollar account and keep it in dollars. Give buyers the details of the dollar account, not the soles account, so the payment is not converted on arrival.
What is a CCI in Peru?
The CCI (Código de Cuenta Interbancario) is a 20-digit code that identifies an account for transfers between different Peruvian banks. For transfers from abroad, banks such as BBVA Perú accept either their own account number or the CCI together with the bank's SWIFT code.
How much do Peruvian banks charge to receive a USD transfer?
Each bank publishes its own fee. BBVA Perú publishes US$25.00 for incoming transfers up to US$10,000 and 0.25% above that, with a minimum of US$25.00 and a maximum of US$30.00. Correspondent banks can deduct a separate fee on the way.
How much of Peru's money is in US dollars?
According to the BCRP, about 26% of the liquidity of Peru's depository institutions was in US dollars in September 2026, down from 28% in January 2025. The BCRP calls this measure the dollarization coefficient of liquidity.
Can a Peruvian company open an Airwallex, Wise or Mercury account?
Airwallex does not list Peru among eligible countries. Wise lists Peru among countries where customers can hold money, so confirm the business features with Wise. Mercury requires the company to be formed in the United States.
Are stablecoins legal in Peru?
Peru supervises the businesses that exchange, transfer or hold crypto assets, including stablecoins, for anti-money laundering purposes. Under SBS Resolution 02648-2024, these virtual asset service providers are obliged entities supervised by the UIF-Perú and must identify their clients and report suspicious operations.
What is a RUC in Peru?
The RUC (Registro Único de Contribuyentes) is the taxpayer registration number SUNAT issues to companies and other taxpayers. Banks, foreign providers and crypto asset providers all ask for it when a company opens an account.
References
- Constitución Política del Perú de 1993, Article 64 (copy published on gob.pe)
- Banco Central de Reserva del Perú: BCRPData, Coeficiente de Dolarización de la Liquidez (PN00025MM)
- BBVA Perú: Transferencias del Exterior for companies
- BBVA Perú: What is an interbank account code (CCI)
- SBS Resolution 02648-2024: anti-money laundering rules for virtual asset service providers (El Peruano, 1 August 2024)
- Airwallex Help Centre: Eligible countries and territories
- Wise Help Centre: Where can I open a Wise balance
- Mercury Support: Eligibility and requirements for opening a Mercury account
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.