24/08/2026
🇪🇸🏦 BEST BANKS IN SPAIN FOR FOREIGNERS
Sooner or later, almost everyone who moves to Spain, buys property here, or simply spends several months a year on the coast faces the same issue: you need a Spanish bank account. Without one, it can be difficult to set up utilities, pay a mortgage, receive a salary, or even rent a property in many cases.
Once opening an account becomes necessary, the next question is: which bank should you choose? If we narrow the list down to banks that are generally easier for people without a Spanish passport to work with, three names come up most often: Sabadell, Santander, and BBVA. And there are practical reasons for that.
🔸 Sabadell is traditionally considered one of Spain’s most foreigner-friendly major banks. It has historically been more accommodating to non-resident clients, some ATM and banking services are available in English, and customer support is available 24/7. For someone who is still getting used to Spanish bureaucracy, this can make the process considerably easier.
🔸 Santander stands out because of its scale. With a large network of branches and ATMs across the country, you are rarely far from access to your money, whether you are in a major city or a small coastal town.
🔸 BBVA is particularly appreciated for its user-friendly mobile app and advanced digital banking infrastructure. This is especially convenient for people who prefer managing their finances from their phone rather than visiting a branch in person.
If you do not need a full Spanish bank account and simply want a convenient way to receive, transfer, and spend euros, international services such as Wise or Revolut are also worth considering. They may not fully replace a local bank account for things such as mortgages or receiving a salary from a Spanish employer, but they can be very useful for everyday spending and transfers, especially during the first months after moving.
