The Government of Javier Milei officially announced the easing of dollar credit for companies, a measure announced this week by the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, which will expand the universe of companies eligible for financing in foreign currency.
Through DNU 736/2026, published this Friday in the Official Gazette, the Executive modified Article 23 of Decree 905/02 and authorized that deposits in foreign currency can also be used to finance legal entities that do not have regular income directly or indirectly linked to foreign trade.
The Government relaxed dollar loans and expanded companies' access to financing
Until now, those funds were mainly intended for exporting companies, activities related to foreign trade, or companies that had guarantees linked to foreign exchange-generating sectors.
The modification will allow the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA) to establish the conditions under which banks can grant these new loans, maintaining limits aimed at containing the risks derived from lending dollars to companies whose income may be denominated in pesos.
The BCRA will limit banks' exposure
Central Bank of the Argentine Republic
The monetary authority anticipated that the financing included within the new regime cannot exceed a total of 15% of the foreign currency deposits of each financial entity.
Additionally, these credits will be subject to higher prudential requirements than those applied to other comparable financings. The minimum capital requirement will be equivalent to 125% of that corresponding to other similar loans, while for calculating credit exposure limits, each operation will count for 1.25 times its value.
Banks will also have to analyze the repayment capacity of clients against different exchange rate fluctuation scenarios, due to the risk generated by the potential mismatch between a company's income and the currency in which it incurs its debt.
The Government's objective is to mobilize a greater proportion of the dollars deposited within the financial system towards private investment. According to data included in the decree, as of June 30, private deposits in foreign currency reached USD 39.336 billion, while loans in dollars to the private sector totaled USD 23.716 billion.
More financing for private investment
Javier Milei alongside his Minister of Economy, Luis "Toto" Caputo
The measure had been anticipated by Minister Caputo, who explained that the new scheme aims to increase the available credit supply for companies, especially in activities capable of financing investments in dollars even if their income does not come directly from exports.
The easing also fits into the official strategy to channel private savings in foreign currency into the financial system and productive activity, while simultaneously reducing dependence on financing from abroad.
