Opening a bank account
Having a Spanish bank account is very convenient as many of your household bills can be paid by direct debit from the account and most banks offer debit cards which allow you to shop and pay directly from your account. Generally, most Spanish banks supply internet banking, allowing clients 24 hour a day access to their accounts.
To open an account as a non-resident you must present a current passport. To open an account as a resident you must present your registry certificate. The bank staff will do the paperwork for you and the process is speedy.
MAIN SPANISH BANKS
BBVA
www.grupobbva.com
tel_ 902 224 466
BARCLAYS SPAIN
www.barclays.es
GRUPO BANCO POPULAR
www.bancopopular.es
tel_ 902 301 000
LA CAIXA
www.lacaixa.es
tel_ 902 020 020
SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO
www.gruposantander.com
tel_ 902 112 211
SOLBANK
www.solbank.com
tel_ 902 261 271
DEBIT CARD
Your debit card will take about ten days to arrive at your branch. When you pick it up you will be given your PIN number. Ask at the branch what you must do to access your account over the internet. You may use non-Spanish credit and debit cards as long as you have proper ID.
DIRECT DEBIT
To cancel a direct debit you need to visit your branch and tell them you wish to remove the company from your list of direct debits.
Normally they charge you a small fee for this service. Also directly contact the business and cancel their service.
Many bills can be paid by direct debit: utilities such as electricity, water and telephone, amenities including satellite television, insurance, as well as all town hall bills, circulation and property tax.
CASH POINTS
Your debit card gives you access at all connected ATM machines that dispense cash twenty-four hours a day. Using your bank’s cash point will incur no fees. Fees vary when using cajeros automáticos from a bank that did not issue the card.
CHANGING BANKS
Ask your bank manager to give you a print out of all your direct debits and give this list to your new bank of choice. You simply open a new account and add your direct debits, then close your old account.
INTERNET BANKING
Most banks and savings banks now offer internet access. You must sign up for this in the office and they will give you your user name and PIN number. Generally there is a second PIN number or a code card used to authorise transactions. Many of the websites are at least partially available in English.
