Borrowing safely: Argentina.

A take-home sheet for people at the session. Other countries: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand · India · Philippines · Mexico.

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Moraph for Good · Fluent

Borrowing safely: Argentina

Handout · moraph.org/commons/sessions/fluent/borrowing-safely

The cost of a loan is everything you pay back, not the monthly payment. This sheet has the questions to ask before you borrow and where to get free help where you live.

Three questions for any lender

What is the yearly rate including fees?
What is the total I will pay back?
What happens if I pay late or early?

Warning signs

Pressure to sign today
No questions about whether you can afford it
A fee before you get the loan, which is often a scam
A lender that wants to keep your ID or bank card

Cheaper options to ask about

Small loans from credit unions or community lenders
A payment plan with the company you owe
Free, not-for-profit debt advice

If you’re struggling

Contact the lender before you miss a payment
Complain in writing, and keep copies
Use the official routes below if it isn’t resolved

In Argentina

Compare the CFT. The Banco Central (BCRA, Argentina’s central bank) says to compare loans by the Costo Financiero Total (CFT, total financial cost), not only the installment or the TNA (nominal annual rate). The CFT includes interest, insurance, IVA (VAT) and other charges.
A plain-language summary. Lenders covered by the rules must give you a plain-language summary of the contract: the amount lent, the total to repay, the number of installments, due dates, main costs and what happens if you pay late. It does not replace the contract.
Changing your mind or paying early. Where the rules apply, you have 10 business days to revoke your acceptance. Paying a loan off in full carries no fee once a quarter of the original term or 180 calendar days have passed, whichever is longer.
Check who is lending. Use the lender’s official channels. The BCRA publishes registers of financial institutions (entidades financieras) and of non-bank lenders (otros proveedores no financieros de crédito).
If there is a problem. Complain to the lender first. If 10 business days pass without a solution, you can complain to the BCRA online, free of charge. If the problem persists, the BCRA passes it to the national consumer protection office (Defensa del Consumidor).

Official places to check:

Banco Central de la República Argentina: www.bcra.gob.ar/prestamos-personales-comparar-costos-y-condiciones
Banco Central de la República Argentina: www.bcra.gob.ar/entidades-financieras
Banco Central de la República Argentina: www.bcra.gob.ar/proveedores-no-financieros
Banco Central de la República Argentina: www.bcra.gob.ar/reclamo-productos-servicios-financieros

More free official help in Argentina: moraph.org/commons/help/financial-literacy/ar

General information, not advice about your own situation. Checked 22 October 2026. If an official source says something different, it is right. Free to copy and adapt. moraph.org/commons/sessions/fluent/borrowing-safely Version of 22 October 2026.