List of Banks in Spain

If you’ve just landed in Spain and plan on living here, we suggest you open a bank account. But before you do, we’d like to walk you through some of the ins and outs of banking in Spain. We’ll tell you what documents are required, inform you on banking hours, types of accounts, fees and what to do when sending and receiving international transfers, and offer you a list of banks in Spain. Here is our go-to-guide to banking in Spain. All banking activities in Spain are controlled by Banco de España (Bank of Spain), which is headquartered in Madrid and has branches in all of the country’s provincial capitals. There are also many foreign banks that operate in the country. Read on to see the list of banks of Spain.
Banks & payments in Spain

Most banks are open Mondays to Fridays, 8.30 am to 2 pm or 2.30 pm. Some also open on Thursday afternoons, 5 pm to 7.45 pm, from October to May.
Opening a bank account
If you’re going to stay in Spain for some time, you are advised to open a bank account.
If you plan to live in Spain, it may be more appropriate for you to open a resident account. But note that, to obtain your tax residence, you will have to meet several requirements: to have spent more than 183 days in a one-year period in Spain; having the centre of your activities or economic interests (business or job) in Spain or having a spouse and minor children who are dependent on you and reside in Spain.
If you have just moved or plan to be over here for a short period of time, you can open a non-resident account. Besides basic documents, you will have to show you are not a tax resident by producing a certificate of non-residence. If you subsequently become a resident, you will have to notify your bank of this.
The documents required for opening a bank account will depend on the bank you choose, although you will have to verify your identity by producing a government-issued ID, such as a passport or any other document that contains an identity number for foreign nationals (NIE, which stands for Número d’identificació d’estrangers). Note that, to satisfy the legislation, the bank may require more documents from you, such as proof of your residence or your country of origin’s tax code (Social Security number or tax identification number).
You can open an account in euros or in another currency, but, in the latter case, you may have to leave a minimum deposit. Find out about charges as you may have to pay a commission on some transactions and a maintenance fee for some credit cards.
Credit cards
You will be able to take out money from cash points with your credit or debit card. You will be given instructions in several languages. In Spain, you will also be able to use your card in almost all shops, hotels, restaurants and other services, such as the metro, taxis and parking meters.
Invoice payments
The most convenient way to pay your periodic bills (rent, electricity, telephone etc.,) is by direct debit. You will have to authorise your bank for such payments by filling in the corresponding forms, so that your bills are paid directly from your bank account. The bank will inform you of the amount paid in each case.
It is not usual to use cheques in Spain for recurrent payments.
List of Banks in Spain – Different Banks for Different Needs
Once you open your account, you’ll be given a debit/credit card for an annual fee*, with which you’ll be able to take money out of the ATM machines (cajeros) or pay in most restaurants, shops and supermarkets. Please remember that cheques are rarely accepted in Spain and not all ATM transactions are free. Make sure the bank informs you of what ATM you can use to avoid surcharges. Otherwise, most cash machines will inform you of the charge, if any, before you go ahead and confirm the transaction.
For an extensive list of banks in Spain, no matter what the type, visit the Bank of Spain’s website.
Bank hours in Spain are 9am to 2pm Monday to Saturday, but remember that there are many fiestas (local and national holidays) and most banks reduce their working hours during the summer months. If you do not speak Spanish, we suggest you call ahead and request an appointment with an English-speaking member of staff. If they do not provide this service, bring a Spanish friend along. It won’t take more than 5 days to have your account activated.
What Documents are Required
- Passport
- NIE – if you haven’t had the chance to read our post informing you on how to get yours, this would be a good time.
- Proof of address – You’ll need to get your empadronamiento [registration certificate] sorted through your local town/city hall (ayuntamiento).
- Proof of employment status
For non-EU citizens, these are the documents you will need to provide when opening a bank account in Spain:
Please make sure you ask for an appointment or check online to go over all necessary documents you will need before opening an account.
Domestic and International Transfers
We hope you’re more up to speed on the ins and outs of banking in Spain.
The Spanish banking system is fully integrated with international financial markets. They have influence and Spanish banks are well known worldwide, they have influence in the eurozone and they affect the global economy. The biggest banks in Spain include:
1. Banco Santander
Banco Santander is the largest bank in Spain in both revenue and assets. This bank was founded in Santander in 1857 and since 2000, the Spanish bank has been expanding, even more, operating on 4 different continents. The bank has many awards and has even been ranked on the Forbes Global 2000 list of the biggest public companies in the world.
2. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA)
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. is a global financial group and is often referred to simply as BBVA. It is one of the biggest banks in Spain. It has one of the most recognizable logos in the world which is a testament to its credentials as a leading global financial institution. It has been ranked the second-largest of banks in Spain, far from its humble beginnings in Bilbao in 1857. Currently, it serves over 70 million customers in more than 30 countries worldwide.
3. CaixaBank
CaixaBank has been frequently ranked as the third-largest bank in Spain. It has the largest banking network of 5,397 branches to compete with the other big banks. It has its headquarters in Valencia and serves 15.8 million customers.
4. Banco de Sabadell
Banco de Sabadell is another large Spanish banking group, with its headquarters Alicante, Spain. The city where it was founded, is still in the name of the bank, Sabadell which is a province of Barcelona. It began as a venture to finance local industries but later focused on commercial banking. It was a large banking network with 2310 branches in Spain and 53 international branches, all over the world.
5. Bankia
The Spanish bank, Bankia is a consolidated bank founded in 2010. The consolidated bank has assets worth over 212 billion euros. The merging banks were Caixa Laietana, Caja Segovia, Caja Madrid, Bancaja, Caja Canarias, Caja Ávila, and Caja Rioja. The Fund for Orderly Bank Restructuring has had 100% ownership of Bankia since the economic downturn in 2011.
6. Banco Popular Español
Banco Popular Español is one of the TOP banks in Spain. It was founded in 1926 but in 2017, it was bought by Banco Santander. It still operates and provides commercial banking, asset management, insurance, and real estate investments. It has its headquarters in Madrid and has clients in Portugal, Mexico, and the US.
7. Bankinter
In 1965, a joint venture of The Bank of America and Banco de Santander created a Spanish industrial bank that would later be Bankinter as we now know it. Currently, it is a commercial bank that serves over 70,000 customers and has its headquarters in Madrid. It has a history with Madrid, where it was listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange in 1972. Bankinter was a forerunner in electronic banking services in Spain, launching such a successful service in 1993.
8. Unicaja Banco
Unicaja Banco is a retail banking service provider institution headquartered in Malaga founded in 1991 with a merger of five other banking institutions. Its specialties include e-banking, deposits, personal loans, trade finance, foreign exchange, brokerage services, customer collection, insurance, asset management, securities, zero plan for professional freelancers, zero plan for professional firms and cards, with 3 million clients and 1,180 branches nationwide, maintaining a leading position in regions of origin, Andalusia and Castilla y Leon.
The bank’s asset volume places it as one of the top ten banks in Spain and is managed by Fundacion Bancaria Unicaja.
9. KutxaBank
Founded out of a merger of Basque financial institutions — Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa, Gipuzkoa Donostia Kutxa, and Caja Vital Kutxa in 2012, a September 2018 report by the company shows that the KutxaBank has garnered a total of €42.2 and €42.5 billion in both assets and customer deposits respectively.
Offering current and savings accounts, debit/credit cards, pension, life and auto insurance, online banking, investments, and personal loans as services, currently operates in Andalusia and Extremadura. In 2013 the bank signed a 10-year, €200 million value alliance with IBM to innovate and optimize the bank’s technology infrastructure, branch offices, and ATM maintenance.
The alliance included an agreement of which IBM will create a new company and two new technology management centers which will employ nearly 300 professionals.
10. Ibercaja Banco
Ibercaja Banco is a Spanish bank based in Zaragoza recognized as the ninth-largest bank in Spain with three million clients, accounting for a total of €53,107 million in assets and €138.4 million net profit via a 2017 company report.
The Bank has a network of 1,151 branches, 1,475 ATMs, and accounts for 5,265 employees across Spain, created by the Caja de Ahorrors and Monte de Piedad of Zaragoza, Aragón, and Rioja to develop its financial activity being 100% of the bank’s shareholders. Aragón, La Rioja, Guadalajara, Burgos, and Badajoz and home markets of the bank while Cataluna, Comunidad Valenciana, and Madrid are its growth markets.
11. Caja Rural Group
Caja Rural Group was created by a group of rural banks. It is composed of about 70 members with a combined 4,000 outlets. As a cooperative bank, this bank provides its clients with financial services. In addition, Caja Rural Group uses its knowledge of the financial market and relationship with the Spanish regional territories to provide these services and products to its client.
Caja Rural Group has a total asset and an average net income of $12 billion and $80 million, respectively. Also, the bank employs directly and indirectly around 13,000 workers across all Spanish territories.
12. Banca March
Established in 1926, Banca March operates as a bank in Spain. It has two main offices in Palma and Madrid. Since its creation, this bank has slowly grown. However, by the turn of this century, it exponentially grew. It expanded to have branches and outlets in the Canary Islands, Balearic, and a host of several other tourist locations. Additionally, the bank now has offices in Barcelona and Andalusia.
Similarly, Banca March has several international offices. It has an office in London and many other international business cities. Over the years, this bank has won many awards. In 2020, it was awarded as the number one safe bank that operates in Europe.
13. Abanca
Abanca has had several evolutions before becoming what it is today. After a financial crisis that engulfed the bank, it was financially supported by the Spanish government. Since then, the Spanish government through its agency has become the majority share owner in the bank. The remaining shares are still owned by private enterprises.
Since its creation, Abanca operates out of Galicia. Nonetheless, it has several branches in other provinces of Spain. Likewise, Abanca has several overseas offices in America, Brazil, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Also, it provides conventional banking services such as current account and savings account.
14. Bank of Spain
The Bank of Spain is the apex bank in Spain. King Charles III created this bank in 1782. It was opened to provide stabilization to government finances after the effects of Spain’s involvement in America’s internal conflict in the 1700s. Initially, the bank was controlled by private individuals. After some years, the Spanish government took over control of the Bank of Spain.
The Bank of Spain, like all other central banks within Europe, belongs to the European System of Central Banks. It provides monitory and supervisory advice to all banks within Spain, including private and commercial banks.
15. Sadabell Bank Spain
Sadabell Bank Spain is one of the biggest financial institutions in the country. As a commercial bank, it works best for businesses that come from other countries to operate in Spain. Therefore, Sadabell Bank Spain provides foreign individuals and companies a conducive environment for business. Consequently, once the entities can open an account, they can quickly get online access and card services. All this can be done without needing to speak English because the bank has a team of employees that can speak several languages