Which bank is best for exchanging dollars in Guatemala? Depends on whether you’re going to sell USD (exchange to quetzales) or buy USD (need dollars). This page compares the banks our daily rate table tracks.
Shortcut: For today’s exact rates compared in one table, see the main exchange rate page, updated daily.
Re-sourced 8 October 2026: unsourced claims were removed (amount thresholds for calling ahead or negotiating, a supposed Q50,000 SAT alert, the bank-versus-exchange-house table, institutional desks, forward contracts, the remittance-provider rate and fee table, a “typical” loss from not comparing, and quetzal-account interest rates). The rate tables still come from the daily feed.
Understanding bank rates
Each bank has TWO rates:
- BUY: when the bank BUYS dollars from you (you sell USD, receive quetzales)
- SELL: when the bank SELLS dollars to you (you buy USD, pay quetzales)
The difference between the two is called the spread. The table below shows each bank’s spread today.
Today’s comparison
Pulled Oct 28, 2026 at 12:53 Guatemala time from tipodecambio.deguate.net + Banguat.
| Bank | Buy (Q/US$) | Sell (Q/US$) | Gap | Buy vs Banguat | Sell vs Banguat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banco Inmobiliario | Q7.55 | Q7.75 | Q0.20 | −Q0.09 | +Q0.11 |
| Banco Agromercantil (BAM) | Q7.44 | Q7.82 | Q0.38 | −Q0.20 | +Q0.18 |
| Banco Promerica | Q7.46 | Q7.84 | Q0.38 | −Q0.18 | +Q0.20 |
| Banrural | Q7.43 | Q7.82 | Q0.39 | −Q0.21 | +Q0.18 |
| BAC Credomatic | Q7.44 | Q7.84 | Q0.40 | −Q0.20 | +Q0.20 |
| Banco Industrial | Q7.42 | Q7.82 | Q0.40 | −Q0.22 | +Q0.18 |
| Bantrab | Q7.42 | Q7.83 | Q0.41 | −Q0.22 | +Q0.19 |
Rates for 2026-10-28; Banguat reference: Q7.6443. Bold marks the day's highest buy rate and lowest sell rate. Sorted by the gap between sell and buy.
Source: the daily bank table collected from tipodecambio.deguate.net, with Banguat’s reference rate. The full table is on the exchange rate page.
If you’re SELLING USD (need quetzales)
Look for the highest BUY rate. The 90-day count below shows which bank had the highest BUY rate on how many days:
Pulled Oct 28, 2026 at 12:53 Guatemala time from tipodecambio.deguate.net + Banguat.
| Bank | Average sell-buy gap | Days with the highest buy rate | Days with the lowest sell rate | Days with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banco Inmobiliario | Q0.21 | 83 | 65 | 86 |
| Banco Promerica | Q0.37 | 3 | 0 | 86 |
| Banco Agromercantil (BAM) | Q0.38 | 0 | 19 | 86 |
| Banrural | Q0.39 | 0 | 0 | 86 |
| Banco Industrial | Q0.40 | 0 | 1 | 86 |
| BAC Credomatic | Q0.40 | 0 | 0 | 86 |
| Bantrab | Q0.41 | 0 | 1 | 86 |
Daily files from 2026-07-29 to 2026-10-28 (90 files; 86 with bank rates). Ties count for every bank tied.
Steps:
- Verify today’s rate at each bank (web or call); the tables here are from the feed’s latest update
- Bring ID and ask for the bank’s document list. Banco Industrial’s foreign-currency policy says a foreigner selling it cash must show a passport with the entry stamp, and caps those cash purchases at US$950 a month and US$3,000 a year or the equivalent in other currencies; BI also says it charges no commission for buying or selling dollars and that cash currency it buys must be deposited to a BI account in quetzales or dollars (BI’s page, read 25 September 2026)
- For a large amount, ask the bank beforehand which requirements and which rate apply
If you’re BUYING USD (need dollars)
Look for the lowest SELL rate. Use the “lowest sell” count in the 90-day table above and today’s rates in the comparison table.
Steps:
- Verify today’s rate
- Ask your bank whether it sells dollars to non-customers and which documents it asks for
Exchange houses vs banks
Bank rates are in the tables on this page. Global Exchange, which lists four exchange offices at La Aurora airport and one in Antigua, does not print its rates on those office pages (read 10 October 2026). What it does publish is where they are and when they open:
| Global Exchange office | Location | Published hours |
|---|---|---|
| La Aurora airport (3 offices) | First level, international arrivals air-side zone | All year, 05:00 to 01:00 |
| La Aurora airport (1 office) | Third level, public international departures area | All year, 05:00 to 01:00 |
| Antigua Guatemala | 5a Avenida Norte 7 (the street of the arch) | All year, 09:00 to 18:00 |
Recommendation: ask the exchange office for its quote and compare it with the banks’ BUY rate in the table above before changing more than you need.
For US-based diaspora
If you’re sending money to Guatemala, what matters is each provider’s rate and fee, which this page does not cover. See the remittance comparison.
Common mistakes that cost you
- Exchanging at the airport without comparing: compare the kiosk’s quote with the bank rates above before changing more than you need
- Not comparing between banks: today’s table shows each bank’s buy and sell rate and how far each sits from Banguat’s reference rate
- Not verifying today’s rate: the tables on this page update daily
Related
- Today’s Exchange Rate — live table of the banks
- USD/GTQ Calculator — convert any amount
- Exchange Rate History — trends
- Best Day to Exchange — timing analysis
- Remittance Comparison — Wise vs WU vs MoneyGram
Sources: bank rates, the tipodecambio.deguate.net daily table with Banguat’s reference rate (site feed); Global Exchange offices in Guatemala City and Antigua, globalexchange.es, read 10 October 2026; Banco Industrial, Compraventa de moneda extranjera, read 25 September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bank gives the best rate for selling dollars?
It changes day to day. The 90-day table on this page counts, for each bank, the days it had the highest BUY rate (what you get when you sell USD); today’s rates are in the comparison table. Both update daily from the tipodecambio.deguate.net bank table.
Which bank gives the best rate for buying dollars?
It changes day to day. The 90-day table on this page counts, for each bank, the days it had the lowest SELL rate; today’s rates are in the table above it.
Do exchange houses give better rates than banks?
Not on published figures: Global Exchange, which lists exchange offices at the airport and in Antigua, does not print its rates on its office pages (read 10 October 2026), while the bank rates are in the table on this page. What those pages do publish is each office’s location and hours; ask for the quote before you hand over cash.
Can I exchange money at Guatemala City airport?
Yes. Global Exchange lists four currency-exchange offices at La Aurora International Airport on its own site (read 10 October 2026): three on the first level in the international arrivals air-side zone (on the south finger in front of the migration counters, on the south finger before migration, and in the baggage-claim area in front of SAT) and one on the third level in the public international departures area. All four are listed as open all year, 05:00 to 01:00, and as taking Visa and Mastercard cards. Global Exchange does not publish its airport rates on those pages; the rate is quoted at the counter.
Where can I exchange money in Antigua Guatemala?
At a bank branch or an exchange office. Global Exchange lists one Antigua office, at 5a Avenida Norte 7 (the street of the arch), open all year from 09:00 to 18:00 (its site, read 10 October 2026). Which bank pays what for your dollars is the comparison on this page and on the live exchange-rate table.
Should I exchange in the US before coming or here?
If a service in the US sells you quetzales, compare its quote with the bank rates on this page. If you arrive at the airport with USD cash, compare the exchange-office quote with a bank rate before changing more than you need for the first day.
