Changing bank

I'd like to know if I can have more than 1 Bank Account in Spain - as I'd like a separate account for savings - is it easy to open a 2nd account with a different bank?

I have had two bank accounts in the past with different banks.   We also have now have three accounts with one bank - all in Spain.   The only problem you will find is that if you have a mortgage then the branch that gave you the mortgage will not let you move your mortgage account to another branch of their bank as they lose the commission.   If you move to another bank then you still cannot move or close the mortgage account.   By the way that was Bankinter.   Hence I am no longer with Bankinter.   LaCaixa Bank are move accommodating.

Thanks  - I have no Mortgage and resent having to pay 34euros a quarter for the privilege of having a Spanish bank account that pays my Water, Electricity bills & taxes  - I only want a 2nd savings account but not want to pay for it!

I read a while back that the Spanish Government had decreed that the banks should offer accounts that cost less in fees but I've heard no more about it?

Hi Kiki,

I was with Sabadell and annoyed at their €35 charge per qtr plus 60€yr for debit cards and non residency certificate fees, so after being denied the low fee basic bank account you have mentioned which is only for residents and specifically for low income clients, and as non residents who dont have pensions paid in nor do we want to commit 700€ mnth to feed the expansion account to get it free, I then went on an investigation into almost every bank in Spain for a fee free non resident account. Caixa no, Bankia no, Santander no, BBVA no (they do online account mentioning ID as NIE, but they only accept green NIE ie.residency as told by branch). Eventually we were able to open a fee free online account with Cajamar Bank incl free cards. Their only fee is 5€ in the month if you have made a transaction in branch. They have no english speakers but do have a dedicated english telephone helpline, app is only in Spanish, but you can easily understand it even if Spanish is limited, or maintain it directly from website using google translate(but not the app). We are a lot happier and it pays all our direct debits etc, free atm,s(theirs and Caja rural banks) and it suits us. It was easy to open in branch(cant do it online with white paper NIE, they used our passports).It was an experience, thank God for Google translate. They also have a savings account called "360" but need 1000€ to open it and pays interest upto 3%, but we just wanted a basic bank account. Google them maybe suitable? There,s N26 a german bank but you have to open online with Spanish address as main residence to get a Spanish IBAN needed to pay direct debits. It took me weeks to investigate, going into banks after researching online but now happy to be with Cajamar. Every time a transaction is done ie. atm use, direct debit, they send a message to your inbox, at first felt pestered but realise not a bad thing to do then you can spot misuse or frauds quicker. Hope this helps as we have paid out 1500€ approx in charges over the years. Wish I,d done it sooner.

Regards

Pauline.

Thanks Pauline - what an excellent informative response - well done you for your persistance - I will check if there is a branch in Torrevieja

You didnt say if you were resident or not as as a resident of course virtually all banks are free! Its a disgraceful discrimination. Because of Brexsh.t, we felt we,d probably only ever stay non residents (90days in, 90days out etc) and determined to stop losing money.

Pauline.

Non resident - just sent a query to Cajamar...and this has come back: - 

The following message to <[email protected]> was undeliverable.

The reason for the problem:

5.3.0 - Other mail system problem 554-'5.4.6 Hop count exceeded - possible mail loop'

 - not a good start!?

Try email - [email protected]  but it has to be in Spanish so need to use google translate to write it then share by email. If you,re in Spain do you have a Spanish friend who could go to branch with you? After my online research, then telephoning the english helpline, we went into branch with muy poco espanol! We opened account(including a savings one I really didnt want) then had to return 2wks later for cards. I took my Spanish friend and she had the savings account cancelled, and was able to ask any queries we had.

There is a branch in Torrevieja, I,ve been looking for dedicated english tel no but its not on website anymore, and my paperwork is in a case in loft(I remember highlighting it.) Sorry cant access at moment. This was not a job for the fainthearted but dont give up, it was the only account I could get free for non residents and I did it in April and all ok now. I took all my direct debit infos and Suma all with references, nie,s and passports. They did the switch of dd,s but I actually rang each Company later just to check anyway.

Like myself you have enjoyed Sabadell,s english availability and they have it just right(at a cost) but I got fed up of the cost. What is stupid is Cajamar app used to be in english but no more and they dont guarantee any english staff. We use account online anyway and atm when there, it suits us.

Pauline.

Just looked in app, dedicated phone no in english is 950537910

Good luck.