The official dollar in Argentina starts the week with a defined price: banks have already confirmed how much they will sell the currency this Tuesday, August 18, 2026, following the holiday commemorating the Passing of General José de San Martín. The exchange rate remains near the all-time high of $1,520 reached days ago, with financial institutions setting values ranging from $1,502 to $1,517.
According to reports sent to the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA), the Banco Nación will sell the dollar at $1,510, as will Banco Galicia, ICBC, and Hipotecario. On the higher end, Supervielle offers it at $1,517, while Brubank lists the lowest at $1,502.
Dollar price bank by bank
| Bank | Selling Price (ARS) |
|---|---|
| Banco Nación | $1,510 |
| Banco Galicia | $1,510 |
| Banco ICBC | $1,510 |
| Banco BBVA | $1,515 |
| Banco Supervielle | $1,517 |
| Banco Ciudad de Buenos Aires | $1,515 |
| Banco Patagonia | $1,515 |
| Banco Hipotecario | $1,510 |
| Banco Santander | $1,515 |
| Brubank | $1,502 |
| Banco Credicoop | $1,515 |
| Banco Macro | $1,515 |
| Banco Piano | $1,515 |
| Banco de Comercio | $1,510 |
In the parallel market, cuevas (informal exchange houses) anticipated that the blue dollar would sell above the official rate at the start of the day, though no exact figure was given. The previous day, the blue dollar closed around $1,545, according to various media reports.
BCRA's strategy: fewer purchases to avoid pressure
The Central Bank reduced its pace of reserve accumulation in the first half of August to the lowest level of the year. According to official data, the monetary authority led by Santiago Bausili averaged daily purchases of about 28 million dollars, well below July's 103 million and May's 137 million.
Financial sector sources indicated that this pullback responds to the need to avoid overheating the foreign exchange market in a context where the wholesale dollar fluctuated between $1,487 and $1,500 and private demand for foreign currency remained active. The strategy aims to sustain the path of slowing inflation, which in July registered 2.1% monthly.
The country risk remains elevated, near 489 points, while the market continues to watch political negotiations and the 2027 elections. The wholesale dollar, meanwhile, closed Friday at $1,487.50, according to market data.
With this scenario, the official dollar starts the week with values that, while not surpassing the record, keep exchange-rate tension at a high level. Analysts expect the BCRA to continue its policy of moderate intervention to avoid sudden jumps.
For foreign readers: Argentina has multiple exchange rates due to long-standing currency controls. The 'official dollar' is the rate set by banks and regulated by the Central Bank, while the 'blue dollar' operates in the informal market and often trades at a premium. The 'country risk' index (measured by JP Morgan) reflects the perceived risk of investing in Argentine debt.