Banking, payments, and credit
Helps you open accounts, move money and access credit in Spain.
Get reliable banking: open and choose accounts, pay and get paid, move money across borders, build credit and handle debt and account problems.
- topics
- 9
- articles
- 57
- of reading
- 6.1 hours
Begin with
Opening a bank account
You will know what to bring, which route fits your status, and what to do if the bank says no.
Routes to your first Spanish bank account and what to expect · What documents a Spanish bank asks for to open an account · Opening a Spanish bank account before you move
More in banking, payments, and credit
8 more topics in this section, about 6.1 hours of reading in all.
Choosing a bank and account
You will pick a bank setup that fits your language, income, household and location, and know what it really costs.
Traditional bank, online bank or fintech: which to choose in Spain? · Spanish account fees and conditions: the real annual cost · Finding a Spanish bank that works in English
Direct debits and paying bills
You will set up, monitor and reverse recurring payments and pay rent and bills in a traceable way.
Setting up direct debits (domiciliación) for rent and bills · A charge you don't recognise: how to return a direct debit · Paying rent and deposits by bank, Bizum or cash
Cards, Bizum and cash
You will know which payment tool to use where, what the limits and traps are, and how to react to a lost card.
How everyday payments work in Spain · Debit, credit and prepaid cards in Spain · Using your foreign cards in Spain without extra fees
Moving money across borders
You will move money into and out of Spain cheaply, with the evidence banks will ask for.
Sending your first big transfer to Spain · Bank, Wise-type provider or FX broker: choosing a transfer method · Moving savings to Spain in stages or in one transfer
Building credit and borrowing
You will understand your credit position, how to build it, and which borrowing products to avoid.
Building a credit history in Spain from scratch · CIRBE and credit files: who holds your data in Spain · Does your home-country credit history count in Spain?
Debt problems and defaulter lists
You will know the first steps, your rights and how to clear or challenge a listing.
Falling behind on payments in Spain: your first steps · ASNEF and Badexcug defaulter lists: how to check and get off · When your account is seized (embargo) in Spain
Switching, closing and account problems
You will know how to regain access, challenge fees, switch banks and close accounts cleanly.
Your bank blocks, freezes or closes your account · Unexpected bank fees, overdraft charges and abusive clauses · Switching banks in Spain without missing a payment
Business banking and payments
You will set up the right business account and payment tools and know what lenders expect.
Do you need a separate business account as an autónomo? · Opening a company bank account, including the capital deposit · Taking card and Bizum payments in a small business
Other sections in Money and taxes
First-year budget and cash runway
Helps you know how much cash the first year in Spain needs.
Tax residency and filing
Helps you know when you are tax resident and file correctly.
Income, assets, investments, and pensions
Helps you plan the Spanish tax treatment of income, assets and pensions.
Social security and benefits
Helps you understand social security contributions and claim benefits.
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.