Banking issues

You don't say if you are resident or not. As a non resident you will be lucky to find any bank that doesn't make charges. Some may reduce them if you have an insurance policy or a mortgage or investments with them but you'd have to check with the bank,

I am with Caixa as a resident and pay no charges at all and never have. I need to pay a pension (or unemployed benefits) into the account each month of more than 300 euro. have 3 direct debits with them and use my credit cards at least 3 times per quarter.

All easy to do as my pension is paid in directly, I have direct debits for water, electricity, IBI, taxes and so and using the credit card imposes no charges and is simply debited to my account on the 1st of each month. 

As a non resident it has been asked before but there are a lot of hoops to go through if you can find one that has free banking. Just ask at each bank what their fees are. I think Sabadell worked out as one of the most expensive. 

Cajamar Wefferent account no charges

We are resident, use CaixaBank, who have always been extremely helpful.

Thanks for your reply, I will look into opening an account with them.

If you are non resident, I've yet to find a Spanish bank that is fee free. Sabadell charge 160 euro per year and another 30 euro for a debit card. Lots say that they are fee free but are for residents only.

Try Wise ( https://wise.com/ ) for your direct debits and bills. 

Get a UK credit card such as Halifax clarity, Santander Zero...plus many more, with no overseas fees for restaurant, supermarket, petrol purchases. 

Get a UK Santander qualifying account for fee free withdrawals from any Santander ATMs in mainland Spain (do not press the euro conversion button) when withdrawing your cash, which we come direct from your UK bank and be converted at the Visa rate.

Online banking is the way to go.

I just changed from Sabadell after 17 years of Banking with CAM then Sabadell and Sabadell was worse than abismal. Took 4 weeks to close the account which had sweet nuff all in it then applied more charges. Was paying 250eu for bank charges plus 35eu for the privilidge of a dbeit card. Everthing was anightmare, Opened an account with online bank Fineco Bank - Italy. No charges for DD's Bank Transfers or 2 Debit cards or charges to use them. Win Win, 

My partner is Spanish and he hates his bank la caixa! Yes if u have enough direct debits with them but he doesn't so their fee is ridiculous their offer of car insurance was high too I got him an online account with BBVA but we've yet to finalise it ,still needed to go into branch to be told it's online only but then when he explained guy couldn't be nicer Gave his direct number to sort direct debits etc we've just been very busy doing other jobs since we got here but it'll get sorted eventually! Supposed to have three things happen today and of course being Spain none of them happened 🤣