{"id":42815,"date":"2026-02-26T15:27:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T15:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/cuenta-en-dolares\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T23:25:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T23:25:27","slug":"dollar-account","status":"publish","type":"seo_page","link":"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/dollar-account\/","title":{"rendered":"Dollar Account: What it is, how it works, and how to open yours"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"503\" src=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/que-es-la-cuenta-virtual-usa-1024x503.jpg\" alt=\"Cuenta en D\u00f3lares: Qu\u00e9 es, c\u00f3mo funciona y c\u00f3mo abrir la tuya\" class=\"wp-image-40184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/que-es-la-cuenta-virtual-usa-1024x503.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/que-es-la-cuenta-virtual-usa-300x147.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/que-es-la-cuenta-virtual-usa-768x377.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/que-es-la-cuenta-virtual-usa-1536x755.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/que-es-la-cuenta-virtual-usa.jpg 1824w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a dollar account is no longer a privilege reserved exclusively for those with access to traditional banking. Today, millions of people in Latin America save their money, receive payments from abroad, and make international payments in dollars right from their phones\u2014without ever setting foot in a bank. If you\u2019re looking for an accessible, hassle-free online dollar account, this guide will explain exactly what it is, what it\u2019s used for, what your real options are, and how to open one step by step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a dollar account?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A dollar account is a financial account denominated in US dollars (USD) that allows you to save, send, receive, and manage money in that currency. Unlike a local currency account, your balance is kept in dollars and is not directly affected by your country&#8217;s currency devaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two main categories: dollar bank accounts (offered by traditional banks) and virtual dollar accounts (also called digital wallets), which operate completely online. Both allow you to manage dollars, but they have important differences in access, requirements, and flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Difference between US dollar account, virtual dollar account<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These three terms are often used as synonyms, but they&#8217;re not exactly the same. A US dollar account is an account opened in the United States that operates in USD, whether banking or digital. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/solutions\/us-virtual-account\/\">A virtual dollar account<\/a> is a 100% digital account, without a physical branch, that operates exclusively online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a dollar account for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A dollar account serves multiple concrete purposes that thousands of people are already taking advantage of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Protect the value of your savings.<\/strong> Keeping money in dollars is a way to protect it against inflation or devaluation of your local currency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Receive payments from abroad.<\/strong> If you work as a freelancer or have clients in other countries, you need a dollar account to receive your payments without losing money to unnecessary conversions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pay for international services.<\/strong> Platforms like Netflix, Spotify, Amazon, or work tools usually charge in dollars. With a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/solutions\/us-virtual-account\/\">virtual dollar account<\/a>, you can pay directly without going through the official exchange rate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transfer money abroad.<\/strong> Whether to send remittances, pay suppliers, or move money between countries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Buy and sell on global marketplaces.<\/strong> If you operate on international platforms, a dollar account allows you to manage your income directly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of dollar accounts: banking, virtual, savings, USA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bank dollar account<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is what traditional banks offer. It requires going to a branch, traveling to the United States, presenting documentation, meeting minimum balance requirements, and in many countries, facing foreign exchange restrictions. Its major disadvantage is bureaucracy and operational limitations of the local financial system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Current dollar account vs savings dollar account<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Within the banking system, there&#8217;s a distinction between current account (aimed at frequent operations, with access to checkbook) and savings account (designed for saving money and earning interest). Both can be denominated in dollars, but they have different conditions depending on the bank and country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">USA account for non-residents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening a bank account in the United States from Argentina or another country in the region is possible but complex: it requires a social security number or ITIN, a US address, and in many cases, physical presence. It&#8217;s valid for those who have frequent ties to the American market, but it&#8217;s not accessible to most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/solutions\/us-virtual-account\/\">US Virtual Account<\/a> on Airtm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s the most accessible alternative and the one that&#8217;s growing the most in the region. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/solutions\/us-virtual-account\/\">US Virtual Account<\/a> lets you operate in USD completely online, without going to any bank, with minimal requirements, and from any device. It&#8217;s designed for people in Latin America who need to handle dollars without the restrictions of the traditional banking system. Platforms like Airtm offer this type of account for free and in minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantages of having a dollar account<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Protection against local inflation.<\/strong> The dollar historically maintains its value better than the currencies of many countries in the region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Access to international payments and collections without complex conversions or high banking fees.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No local banking system restrictions.<\/strong> A virtual dollar account operates outside the traditional banking system, meaning greater freedom to move your money.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Immediate availability.<\/strong> Digital platforms process dollar operations almost instantly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No need for a previous bank account.<\/strong> You only need a device with an internet connection and your ID.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/app.airtm.com\/bank-accounts\/USD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2192 Open my free US Virtual Account with Airtm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who can open a dollar account?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Practically anyone over the age of majority can open a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/solutions\/us-virtual-account\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/solutions\/us-virtual-account\/\">US Virtual Account<\/a><\/a>. Requirements vary by platform, but generally you need an active email, phone number, and ID (ID card, passport, or travel document). Unlike traditional banks, digital platforms don&#8217;t ask for credit history, minimum verifiable income, or a previous bank account. This makes them ideal for people looking to access dollars without going through the conventional banking system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Airtm: your virtual dollar account without a bank, from any country<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/\">Airtm<\/a> is a digital financial platform designed for people in Latin America who need to access dollars without depending on the traditional banking system. It&#8217;s the most accessible virtual dollar account in the region: no restrictions, no bureaucracy, and no need for a previous bank account. With Airtm, you can save dollars without restrictions, receive payments from abroad directly in USD, transfer dollars between accounts instantly, pay with a virtual card linked to your balance, and exchange your dollars for local currency whenever you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Virtual card linked to your dollar account<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/\">Airtm<\/a> offers a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/solutions\/usd-virtual-card\/\">USD virtual card<\/a> linked to your dollar balance, which allows you to make purchases on international sites, pay subscriptions, and access digital services from around the world directly from your virtual dollar account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to receive payments from abroad in your dollar account<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With Airtm you can receive payments from abroad in multiple ways: transfers from other platforms, payments from international clients, and remittances from family. The money arrives directly in your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/solutions\/us-virtual-account\/\">virtual dollar account<\/a>, ready to use or withdraw whenever you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to open your virtual dollar account with Airtm: step by step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/app.airtm.com\/login\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Create your account<\/a>.<\/strong> Go to Airtm from your computer or mobile and register with your email and a secure password.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Verify your identity.<\/strong> Upload a photo of your ID (ID card, passport, or travel document). This step activates all the features of your dollar account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fund your account.<\/strong> Choose the funding method available in your country to add dollars to your balance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Start operating.<\/strong> With your virtual dollar account active, you can now send, receive, pay, and withdraw dollars whenever you want.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/app.airtm.com\/bank-accounts\/USD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2192 Create my free virtual dollar account with Airtm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-42815","seo_page","type-seo_page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/seo_page\/42815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/seo_page"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/seo_page"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.airtm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}