According to the Banco de Guatemala, the weighted average deposit rate in quetzales was 4.62% in September 2026 (5.09% in September 2025). The monetary policy rate is 3.50%: the Junta Monetaria held it on 23 September 2026. This page does not list bank-by-bank rates because it has no published source for each; get the rate in writing before signing.
A Certificado de Deposito a Plazo (CDP) is Guatemala’s version of a fixed-term deposit or CD: you commit money for a term and the bank pays an agreed rate. The system average fell over the past year: the weighted average deposit rate in local currency went from 5.09% in September 2025 to 4.62% in September 2026 (Banguat, table imm05, read 7 October 2026).
What is published: system averages
Correction (7 October 2026): this page used to publish a table of rate ranges, minimums and notes for 8 banks (Banrural, Banco Industrial, BAM, G&T Continental, BAC Credomatic, Promerica, Bantrab and BI Banco). They were unsourced editorial ranges and have been withdrawn. See our corrections policy.
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Weighted average deposit rate, local currency, September 2026 | 4.62% | Banguat, table imm05 |
| Same rate, September 2025 | 5.09% | Banguat, table imm05 |
| Monetary policy rate | 3.50% (held 23 Sep 2026) | Banguat, Junta Monetaria announcement |
The deposit rate is a weighted average over banking-system deposits and, per the table’s own note, excludes demand deposits. It is not the rate any particular bank will offer you and does not split by term.
How CDPs Work in Guatemala
A CDP is a contract between you and the bank: you deposit an amount for a term, and the bank pays a rate. The conditions that change the outcome most are set by each bank’s contract, so ask about them one by one:
- Deposit coverage. Banguat’s August 2026 FOPA document says the fund covers deposits in the banking system up to Q20,000, or the foreign-currency equivalent, per individual or legal person (read 8 October 2026). Consider that limit before placing a large amount in one CDP.
- Negotiable rate or not. Ask whether the rate changes with the amount or your relationship with the bank.
- Renewal at maturity. Ask whether the CDP rolls over automatically and at what rate.
Also ask how interest is paid: periodically into a linked account, or all at maturity.
How to Choose a CDP
1. Match the term to your real liquidity needs. Read the early-withdrawal clause before signing. If you might need the money before maturity, choose a shorter term or split the amount across two terms (a CDP ladder).
2. Compare the final amount, not just the rate. Ask the banker to show you the final amount (monto final) under each interest-payment option.
3. Check the early-withdrawal clause specifically. Ask whether you lose all interest on early cancellation or are paid some rate for the time elapsed.
4. Ask about USD vs GTQ side by side. A USD CDP avoids exchange-rate risk if your spending is in dollars. As a gauge of that risk: Banguat’s reference exchange rate has moved between Q7.61 and Q7.93 per dollar since 2021 (daily low and high, 2021-2026; see today’s exchange rate). Compare the two rates in writing.
5. Ask whether there are amount tiers. If the bank pays more above a certain amount, ask for the tier table in writing.
Required Documents
Each bank sets its own requirements. This is the list of questions to bring:
| Document | Ask | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DPI or passport | Which ID it accepts | Foreigners: ask whether a passport is enough |
| NIT (tax ID) | Whether it is required | See the NIT guide |
| Existing account at the bank | Whether it is a prerequisite | Ask whether you can open an account and a CDP in the same visit |
| Source of funds proof | Above what amount it is required | Ask which documents it accepts |
| Initial deposit | Accepted methods | Ask before the visit |
If you do not yet have an account, see our best banks for foreigners guide.
Related Steps
- NIT (tax ID) — how to get and look up your NIT.
- RTU registration — SAT’s unified tax register.
- Best banks for foreigners — open the account first, then layer the CDP.
- Best banks Guatemala (blog) — head-to-head bank comparison.
- Cost of living in Guatemala — calibrate how much liquidity you really need before locking funds.
- Today’s USD/Q exchange rate — relevant if comparing USD vs GTQ CDPs.
- Guatemala stock exchange (BVN) — Treasury bonds from Q5,000 for small investors, bought through a broker rather than a bank deposit.
For Diaspora
Ask the bank whether you can open the CDP without being in Guatemala or whether it requires an in-person signature. Paths worth checking with the bank:
- Open the account during a visit home and ask whether further CDPs can then be opened remotely.
- A trusted family member with a power of attorney (poder) who can transact in person; ask the bank which type of poder it accepts.
- Compare against remittances — keeping money in the US and sending it when needed avoids the FX risk of a GTQ CDP.
Sources: Banco de Guatemala, table imm05 (weighted average deposit rate in local currency, September 2025 and 2026 figures), and the Banguat home page with the Junta Monetaria announcement of 23 September 2026 (policy rate 3.50%), both read 7 October 2026. Deposit coverage: Banguat, document on deposit insurance and the FOPA, read 8 October 2026. Exchange-rate range: Banguat daily reference rate (TipoCambio service), 2021-2026: high Q7.93024 on 7 December 2022 and low Q7.61364 on 16 June 2026, checked 10 October 2026. Treasury bonds from Q5,000: Bolsa de Valores Nacional, read 8 October 2026. This page does not publish bank-by-bank rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Guatemala bank pays the highest CDP rate in 2026?
We do not publish a bank-by-bank ranking: the table of rate ranges this page used to show had no source and was withdrawn on 7 October 2026. The official figure available is the system average: according to the Banco de Guatemala (table imm05), the weighted average deposit rate in local currency was 4.62% in September 2026, down from 5.09% in September 2025. It averages deposits across the banking system (demand deposits excluded), so it is not any one bank’s offer. Get the rate in writing from two or three banks before signing.
What is the minimum to open a CDP in Guatemala?
This page does not list minimums: the amounts it used to give had no source. Ask each bank for its minimum, in quetzales and in dollars.
Can foreigners open a CDP in Guatemala without residency?
It depends on each bank’s policy. This page does not list per-bank policies: the list it used to give had no source and was withdrawn. Ask the bank which documents it requires from a non-resident.
What happens if I withdraw a CDP early?
Each bank’s contract sets it. Read the early-withdrawal clause (cancelacion anticipada) before signing and ask whether you lose all interest or are paid some rate for the time elapsed.
Are USD CDPs available at Guatemalan banks?
Ask each bank whether it offers fixed-term deposits in dollars and at what rate. The USD ranges this page used to publish had no source and were withdrawn.
Are CDPs in Guatemala insured?
Yes, up to a limit. Banguat’s August 2026 document on the Fondo para la Protección del Ahorro (FOPA) says the fund guarantees a depositor in the banking system recovery of deposits up to Q20,000, or the foreign-currency equivalent, per individual or legal person (read 8 October 2026). Amounts above that are not covered.
Do Guatemalan CDPs renew automatically?
It depends on the contract. Ask at signing whether the CDP rolls over at maturity and at what rate, and note the maturity date.
