Hey

As I'm moving to Spain for 9 months, I'll need to open a bank account for my monthly wages. I'm 21, so may be eligible for a young persons savings account if there is such a thing and I won't be making any international payments or transfers.

Does anyone have any advice on the best account to get?

Simple, unless your fluent in Spanish find a bank with an English website and helpline. Deutsche Bank and Barclay both come to mind.

Also you'll need to open a non resident account (which doesn't mean much)

I opened an account with BBVA ( A huge bank here in Spain ) and they asked for no evidence of cash . I think I deposited €200 and showed them my passport . That was it ! I didn´t have a job , no contract for my apartment ... nothing !
steve

Opening a bank account for non-residents is a lot easier now than it used to be. As long as you have a local address where you can receive mail, a passport, and can deposit some cash I think you can do it. If you don't speak any Spanish yet, you may have to go to the bank one day, tell them you need an English-speaking associate/worker, and you they can probably arrange one - or they'll send you to another office. OR, take a Spanish friend with you and they can translate for you.

When I first opened my first Spanish bank account, in 1997, I really couldn't do it but a Spanish friend - who had a friend at the bank - vouched for me and that was that.

I have a La Caixa bank account now with internet access. Therein you have an English or Spanish version option.

Saludos, MadridMan

one interesting thing about Spanish bank accounts is the debt card is actually a Visa card, while you can't carry a balance you use it online the same as a visa card.

Just opened an account at Citibank here in Madrid as a non resident and just needed a letter from my employer stating I was in the process of getting a work Visa. Good thing about Citibank Spain is that they do transfers to your Citibank account in the US from Euros to US$'s for free if you do it online.

jmp, I have both a current account and a savings account with ING in Spain. They also do free international bank transfers :-)

Daniel-Madrid, does INGdirect.es (Spain) do free international bank transfers ONLY between worldwide ING bank accounts or also from ING account to any other bank account?

Saludos, MadridMan

nope, free international transfers to any bank. i've done a transfer to the bank Abbey National in the UK loads of times for free.

The only thing you need is the BIC code and the IBAN number for your foreign account.