Argentina banks to close for five days amid papal visit

Argentine bank branches will face a five-day closure from Friday, November 6, to Tuesday, November 10, 2026. This interruption is due to a combination of the Bank Workers' Day, a weekend, a national holiday, and a banking holiday established by the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA) in observance of Pope Leo XIV's visit to the country.

While physical branches will be closed, digital services such as home banking, mobile apps, electronic wallets, and ATMs are expected to remain operational. In the province of Buenos Aires, an additional provincial holiday on Wednesday, November 11, may further affect local branch availability.

Separately, the BCRA is proceeding with a second auction of UVA fixed-term deposits through the Sustainability Guarantee Fund (FGS). This $200 billion peso operation aims to expand access to mortgage loans. Unlike the first auction, which was limited to first-time homebuyers, the new criteria allow individuals who own property but do not have immediate use of it—such as those with inherited or leased assets—to qualify for financing for purchase, construction, or renovation.