Argentina provinces launch debt relief and consumer protection measures

Several Argentine provinces are implementing measures to address rising consumer debt. In Córdoba, the provincial government launched the ‘Alivio Cordobés’ program, which allows families and SMEs to refinance debts, including credit cards and personal loans, with a fixed annual nominal rate (TNA) capped at 35% over 24 to 48 monthly installments. To encourage financial institutions to participate, the province will apply a 0% tax rate on the interest generated by these operations.

In Buenos Aires Province, a legislative project has been introduced to create a Provincial Regime for the Prevention and Treatment of Consumer Over-indebtedness. Led by Deputy Facundo Tignanelli and Ombudsman Guido Lorenzino, the initiative seeks to establish a mandatory pre-judicial stage to facilitate debt restructuring and prevent abuses by financial entities, fintechs, and digital platforms. The goal is to move toward collective negotiation that considers a person's total economic situation rather than treating debts in isolation.