Paul - You are very welcome. I hold dual citizenship...ARG/USA. Therefore I have a DNI (National ID card) which allows me to have a local bank account.
I will be taking a number issued at an electronic dispenser at the bank entrance of my branch. I will sit and wait to be called as will you to obtain change. The difference is that my bank gives priority to their own customers. For every 3 of us served they will call 1 of you. My waiting time is shorter. Unless I go between noon and 2.00pm when local merchants line up to deposit their take from the previous day.
Glasgowjohn - I will need to convert the $500/1000 bills into smaller denominations to use when I shop at the fruit and vegetable stores (which I do 3-4x per week spending an average of $75 pesos at each stop), kioskos, my favorite neighborhood rotisserie as well as the bakery and butcher shop where I have shopped for the past 11 years. This is to name a few of the vendors which I patronize and will continue to do so. When shopping at the big supermarkets I can continue utilizing my local debit card.
Throughout the city there are many other types of shops which only accept cash. It's the gov't plan to offer "incentives" to small merchants to install the electronic terminals so shoppers (local and transient) can use their cc/debit cards. At best this process may take 6+ months to implement throughout CABA. I live in Caballito, a neighborhood that per square meter has more small commercial establishments that any other in the capital.
You live in Villa del Parque which is another neighborhood with high density of small shops. You are an eternal optimist. I am a cautious pragmatist.
