Argentina's BCRA adds public data to fight fraud

The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic said it will make public information available to strengthen its fraud-fighting strategy in electronic payments. The measure will roll out gradually starting in September 2026 and is meant to improve transaction monitoring, customer onboarding and periodic KYC checks at financial institutions and payment service providers.

What did the BCRA authorize with Communication "A" 8473?

Communication "A" 8473 authorizes a public database so instant transfer operators can identify accounts linked to suspected fraud and illegal gambling schemes. According to analyses published by Argentine media and the BCRA's official notice, that data layer will be integrated into the payments ecosystem's prevention and monitoring circuit.

Primeros TV reported that the system will allow banks and digital wallets to be alerted when there are signs of risk. Urgente24 added that the operating rule for users does not change, because if a transaction is unknown or fraudulent, the complaint must first be filed with the financial institution or payment service provider, and only then with the central bank if the issue is not resolved satisfactorily.

How will that information be used?

The official BCRA notice in English says the public information will strengthen three specific processes, transaction monitoring, customer onboarding and periodic KYC reviews. In practice, instant transfer operators will be able to build fraud risk profiles by person and make them available at no cost to financial institutions and PSPCPs.

That operational use was detailed in analyses published by media outlets and specialist studies, which describe a model designed to feed daily controls over transactions and compliance processes. According to the BCRA, implementation will be gradual from September 2026.

What other rules accompany this move?

On the same date, September 3, 2026, the BCRA issued Communication "A" 8472, which introduces adjustments to three ordered texts, Complementary Services of Financial Activity and Permitted Activities, Expansion of Financial Institutions, and Payment Service Providers. According to a Bruchou & Funes de Rioja study, the rule adjusts the payments, collections and complementary agency framework applicable to financial institutions and payment service providers.

That regulatory package sits alongside Communication "A" 8406, which had authorized the Payment by Transfer system. According to an analysis by Estudio Vilaplana, that method is the only instant transfer enabled for recurring loan collections, with prior and express customer consent, limits on the payment-to-income ratio, and a timeline of about six months to develop the technical infrastructure.

Mario Vadillo, in his legal analyses, also said direct debit must be expressly authorized and revocable, that users have the right to receive prior notice before each debit, and that if a customer does not receive their salary at the institution where they took out the loan, collection moves to the new Payment by Transfer system. He added that authorization can be canceled through the lender's channels or through the customer's own bank or wallet.

What political reaction did Payment by Transfer trigger?

The rollout of Communication "A" 8406 also prompted a political response. Intransigente reported that Senator Anabel Fernández Sagasti publicly criticized automatic installment debits from bank accounts and wallets and said she would introduce legislation to block or limit the BCRA rule.

That political front adds another layer of institutional tension to a rule that is already operational and remains in force as long as the communication continues to apply.