In short: Today’s Banguat reference rate is in the live card at the top of this page — it refreshes every business day, so we don’t repeat it here. Each bank’s buy and sell price is in the bank table below it. Since 2022 Banguat’s reference rate has moved between Q7.61 and Q7.93 per dollar (annual lows and highs, through 24 September 2026). We read the banks on the daily comparison table (as of September 2026: Banrural, Banco Industrial, BAC Credomatic, Bantrab, Banco Inmobiliario, Banco Promerica and Banco Agromercantil, also known as BAM). Over the 90 daily readings to 24 September 2026, Banco Inmobiliario had the narrowest average gap between buy and sell (Q0.23) and had the highest buy rate (alone or tied) on 79 of the 82 days it had a rate; Banrural, BAC Credomatic, Banco Industrial and Bantrab averaged Q0.39-Q0.40. Per-bank pages: Banrural · Banco Industrial.
Understanding the Guatemala Exchange Rate
Since 2022 the Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ) has traded between Q7.61 and Q7.93 per US dollar on Banguat’s reference rate (annual lows and highs, through 24 September 2026). The Banco de Guatemala (Banguat) sets a daily reference rate based on interbank transactions, and individual banks set their own buy (compra) and sell (venta) rates around it.
We read the banks on the daily comparison table – as of September 2026 Banrural, Banco Industrial, BAC Credomatic, Bantrab, Banco Inmobiliario, Banco Promerica and Banco Agromercantil (BAM) – so you can find the best rate without visiting multiple branches.
How Banks Set Their Rates
Each bank adds a spread to the Banguat reference rate. The buy rate (compra) is what the bank pays you for your dollars – you want this as high as possible when selling USD. The sell rate (venta) is what they charge you to buy dollars – you want this as low as possible.
Over the 90 daily readings to 24 September 2026, the gap between each bank’s buy and sell price averaged Q0.23 at Banco Inmobiliario, Q0.37 at Banco Promerica, Q0.38 at Banco Agromercantil and Q0.39-Q0.40 at Banrural, BAC Credomatic, Banco Industrial and Bantrab.
Exchange Rates by Bank
Here is what to expect from each bank we track. Check the comparison table above for today’s exact rates.
Banrural (Banco de Desarrollo Rural)
Banrural publishes its own dollar board with separate cash (Efectivo), document and app (Banca Virtual) rates. We read it daily, next to Banrural’s rank against the other banks and its history, on the Banrural dollar exchange rate page. Banrural’s own currency-services page describes its branch network as the largest in the country.
Banco Industrial (BI)
Banco Industrial’s own exchange-rate page lists two dollar rates, one for its branches (USD Agencia) and one for Bi en Línea (USD En Línea), and calls both indicative. BI’s rank against the other banks, its gap to Banguat’s reference and its history are on the Banco Industrial dollar exchange rate page.
BAM (Banco Agromercantil)
BAM stands out for digital-first currency exchange. Their mobile app allows you to convert USD to GTQ directly, often at better rates than at the branch counter. A solid choice if you prefer handling transactions from your phone.
BAC Credomatic
A regional bank operating across Central America. BAC spreads tend to be slightly wider than average, and BAC says its ATM Full machines carry out transactions in quetzales only (baccredomatic.com, read 8 October 2026).
Bantrab (Banco de los Trabajadores)
Originally founded for Guatemalan workers, Bantrab offers competitive rates especially for clients who receive their salary or remittances through the bank. They have strong coverage in urban commercial areas.
Banco Inmobiliario
Often the bank with the tightest spread in the entire system, meaning you pay the least in fees when converting currencies. Worth checking if you are exchanging large amounts and want to minimize the buy-sell difference.
Banco Promerica
A mid-size bank with branches across the country. Rates are generally in line with the market average. They offer USD accounts for those who want to hold dollars locally.
Where to Exchange Money in Guatemala
| Option | Best for | Typical rate |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | Best rates, secure | Near Banguat reference |
| ATMs | Convenience, 24/7 | Good, minus Q25-35 fee |
| Transfer services (Wise, Xoom) | Sending from US | Near mid-market rate |
| Licensed casas de cambio | Speed, no account needed | Slightly worse than banks |
| Airport counters | Emergencies only | Worst rates in the country |
| Street changers | Not recommended | Counterfeit risk |
Tips for Getting the Best Rate
- Check this page first – rates vary by up to Q0.15 between banks, which on $1,000 is Q150 difference
- Exchange at banks, not hotels or airports
- Use ATMs with no-foreign-fee cards (Wise, Charles Schwab, Revolut) to avoid double charges
- For amounts over $500, ask the bank teller for a “tasa especial” (preferential rate)
- Bring clean, new $100 bills – banks may reject damaged or small-denomination notes
- Check our remittance comparison if you are sending money from the US – transfer services often beat bank rates
Why the Quetzal Is So Stable
The quetzal has moved in a narrow range against the dollar since 2022 (Q7.61 to Q7.93 on Banguat’s reference rate). Three factors bear on it:
- International reserves: The Banguat holds over $20 billion in reserves, providing a strong buffer against currency shocks.
- Remittance inflows: Guatemala receives over $20 billion per year in family remittances from the United States, generating constant demand for quetzales.
- Conservative monetary policy: The central bank actively intervenes in the foreign exchange market to prevent sharp fluctuations.
For expats earning in USD, this stability means your purchasing power in Guatemala stays predictable month to month.
Sending Money to Guatemala
If you are sending dollars from the United States to Guatemala, the exchange rate you receive can vary significantly by provider. Wise sends at the real mid-market rate (no hidden markup), and Remitly is often the fastest for cash pickup at Banrural.
Guatemala is the 5th largest remittance-receiving country in Latin America, with over $20 billion flowing in annually. Compare current rates on our remittance comparison page.
Send USD to Guatemala
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Other Currency Pairs
The Banguat reference rate is USD/GTQ. Cross-currency rates (CAD, EUR, GBP, MXN to quetzal) are derived from the USD rate × the cross-rate. We track each major pair on its own page so you can see the cross-rate, which banks offer it, and historical drift.
- All currencies hub – Side-by-side comparison of all tracked pairs
- CAD to Quetzal – Canadian dollar exchange rate, snowbird remittance options
- EUR to Quetzal – Euro to GTQ rate, where to exchange in Guatemala
- GBP to Quetzal – British pound to GTQ rate, UK retiree money transfers
- MXN to Quetzal – Mexican peso, border-zone bank rates at Tecun Uman / El Carmen
Filing a US tax return? You need the annual average, not today’s rate
Today’s rate is the wrong number for a Form 1040 or an FBAR — those need a yearly average, and no English-language source publishes one for the quetzal. We built it from Banguat’s own range endpoint: USD/GTQ annual average exchange rate, 2015-2026 — twelve years of averages with dated highs and lows, a monthly breakdown, the averaging method stated in full, and the current year explicitly flagged as incomplete rather than quietly averaged.
Compare Bank Products (Daily-Tracked, 8 Banks)
Same comparison pattern as this exchange-rate page, applied to other bank products. We scrape and compare 8 Guatemalan banks daily.
- USD Accounts Comparison – Min balance, monthly fees, wire-in/wire-out costs across 8 banks
- Mortgage Rates – 8-bank rate sheet, down payment %, terms up to 25 years
- Personal Loan Rates – APR ranges, terms, requirements across 8 banks
- CDP / Fixed-Term Deposit Rates – 6mo / 12mo / 24mo CDP rates compared
- Credit Cards – 8-bank cards: cashback, miles, APR, foreign tx fees
- Business Banking – Business accounts, ACH costs, online banking
- International Wire Transfers – Bank wires vs Wise vs Remitly vs WU vs MoneyGram
- Mobile Banking Apps – App ratings, features, biometric login by bank
Related Resources
- Remittance Comparison – Which service gives you the most quetzales per dollar
- Banking Guide – How to open accounts, find ATMs, and use digital banking
- Cost of Living in Guatemala – Real monthly budgets in quetzales and USD
- Internet & Connectivity Guide – ISP plans and speeds across the country
- Guatemala Statistics – Every key number (prices, wages, rates) from official sources, citation-ready with CSV download