Open a Spanish bank account
A Spanish bank account is essential for paying rent, utilities, and receiving local transfers. Some landlords and employers require one. It is best to open one in your first month.
Official sources
- Banco de España — Financial Consumer Portal
Verify that any bank you use is officially licensed in Spain
The steps
- 1
Decide: resident or non-resident account
If you have an empadronamiento certificate or residence card (TIE), you qualify for a standard resident account with better terms. If you do not yet have residency documents, you can open a non-resident account (cuenta de no residente) with a passport and NIE, but it comes with higher fees and fewer features.
Some digital banks (Revolut, N26, Wise) are not Spanish banks but can bridge the gap while you set up a local account. BBVA, CaixaBank, and Sabadell are the most common choices for expatriates. - 2
Gather your documents
Requirements vary slightly between banks, but these are standard.
Documents needed
- Valid passport
- NIE (required by all major Spanish banks)
- Empadronamiento certificate (for resident account)
- Proof of income or employment (some banks ask for this, especially for a full resident account)
- Spanish phone number (required to set up mobile banking and authentication)
- 3
Visit a branch or apply online
Major Spanish banks (BBVA, CaixaBank, Sabadell) allow account opening online for residents with digital ID, or in-branch with a 15-minute process. BBVA has the strongest English-language digital experience. Santander is also widely accessible.
malaga: Many Málaga branches have English-speaking staff given the large expatriate community. Sabadell's Málaga branches are especially accustomed to foreign clients.madrid: In Madrid, international branches of major banks are found in the central districts (Salamanca, Centro). BBVA's main Madrid branch has English service.barcelona: CaixaBank and Sabadell are headquartered in Catalonia — expect strong branch networks and sometimes better service for expats. - 4
Set up online banking and your phone number
Spanish banks rely heavily on SMS verification for transfers. Ensure your Spanish phone number is set up before completing your account registration, as you will need it immediately for authentication.