Talk Quesada forum

Hi all. I pick my nie number up tomorrow and would like to open an account. I am looking to keep just a few hundred in to pay direct debits. So looking for a bank that does not charge for the account. Have heard bankia does this but not sure. Any advice will be greatly appriciated. Many thanks. Dawn

All banks in Spain charge for non-resident accounts. Bankia only gives free banking for residents who pay a certain amount in to the account every month in the form of salary or pension, it used to be at least 700 euro a month but I believe it's gone up.
There are several previous discussions on this matter (which you can access lower down the page on this subject) and you'll see some banks charge more than others but all will make charges.

Thank you very much marcliff I will have a look about and read up. Cheers

I'm in a similar situation but don't have any Spanish bills to pay as I pay my landlord using Transferwise. Is there a benefit to having an account or would I be better off just using The ATM to draw cash?

Hi Dawnandrob, I don't know if this BBVA account would be the type of thing you're looking for. I posted this before but the old link seems to have changed:

https://www.bbva.es/eng/bancapersonal/c ... /index.jsp

Seems to be a fully online account without charges/fees but I am unsure of all the intricacies of the account.

Please please whatever you do - do not open an account with BMN in Guardamar Del Segura. I'm happy in the knowledge that I will never have to encounter such incompetence with another organisation as there are surely no banks out there capable of outdoing their disgraceful levels of service.

We would thoroughly recommend Sabadell which used to be called Solbank in Que Sada next to Santander, we have been with them for 11 years and always found the staff very helpful and speak excellent English. Have heard not very good reports about BBVA from friends.