Banking

Can recommend Sabadell, been with them for four years and their service is excellent, wonderful Online Banking facility, they pride themselves on the slogan "we speak your language" which means that whichever Branch I have used they have had English speaking staff.

Ray, I take your point and agree that the onus is on us to try and learn Spanish, but there are many people on the Forum who are new to Spain and are not yet fluent in Spanish. At this point of their Spanish experience it is important that when making major financial commitments and decisions they are able to speak to people that they can properly communicate with.

Many places pride themselves in being able to provide staff who can assist in this way, for example in the Farmacia at Zenia Boulevard the staff wear Flag Badges presenting the languages they speak.

It is all part of providing excellent customer service, something lacking in the U.K. and Ireland.

We have been with Sabadell for 10yrs as non residents reluctantly paying their fees and tried to get them to change to the 3€ mnth low cost basic bank account. I was met with refusal as they said they needed our tax declarations showing pension income and despite our saying we didnt do Spanish taxes and our ages proved we were pensioners, the woman became quite rude telling me to put 700€per month into account to get a free account. I contacted their feedback phone number and emailed them too in Madrid. Their email reply was it was income related so had to prove income, but the phoneback said it was possible but try another branch.! Anyway I then went to BBVA as was impressed with their english use app and after 5 minutes with agent she asked for card, stating it couldnt be opened with a paper Nie, despite app stating either DNI or NIE. I actually tried 4 times online to open but kept getting messages stating it had not been processed correctly, return to beginning. I was so upset as their info on website said available to non residents. In the end we went into a Cajamar branch and although no english speakers at all, a very helpful man opened an acciunt for us, but believe it or not it took 2hrs in their branch to complete. That was yesterday and it,ll be active with cards to collect on 30th (longer due to Easter). The account is fee free but have to keep a balance of 1000€ minimum at all times. I dont think the banks that receive big commissions from non residents want to lose their commissions and are putting obstacles in the way. Also each low cost account states open to EU residents so what would happen if and when UK leave EU, is open to banks cancelling low cost accounts. I would love to hear if any "non resident" has been able to open either the low cost account with Sabadell or a non resident account with BBVA with just their paper NIE.

As we,ve had our old paper NIE for 13yrs, I,m wonderring now if NIE,s are now on cards and maybe this was what BBVA agent meant? We recently made new wills and asked Notary if we needed to renew our NIE,s as they had old addresses on but he said no , the number is valid for ever, so no need.

Regards

Pauline