foreigner banking matters

what is the best way for an american to take care of his banking needs in Spain. I plan on staying for possibly a year, working, teaching English. Most likely, without the legal papers. Is it possible for me to open a bank account in a bank in Spain. Can I open a citibank account in the states and use their Spanish branch. Can I use my Visa card everywhere. What about a cash station card? I don't want to have to carry cash and travellers checks everywhere I go!

Hi Jasonbrooks72! Coincidentally, I tried doing this (opening a bank account in Madrid) during my 1999 trip, but was very unsuccessful and I too went to the Citibank bank on/near Calle Serrano.

It seemed that without residence in Spain and/or not being a citizen, I COULD open a bank account at any of the banks, but it would cost something amazing like $5,000 JUST TO OPEN IT! I think I asked the same thing of Citibank about opening an account in the US and using it in Spain, but still, to have the account active in Spain they'd have to open a Spain accessible account for the $5,000. Keep in mind that mainly only big-businessman have banks in foreign countries.

You'll find other banking/ATM-related threads in the "Packing" forum, but you may want to just keep all cash you make onhand (I know. I know. Not entirely safe). It's also possible that you could get yourself a safe-deposit box at a bank there too (I'm not at all sure if they even have them in Spain) and that's where you could save/store the bulk of your cash without any paperwork on transactions.

You could, it seems open a joint account with a Spaniard, but then they too are responsible for any taxes/fees/penalties and this wouldn't really be fair to them.

So, in short, it's a tough situation. If possible, have a load of cash in your stateside bank and use your ATM card to get cash from any one of the ATM machines when you need it.

Anyone else have suggestions?? Good luck!

Saludos, MadridMan

hola,
hmmm...well when i came here i had no trouble opening a bank account. It was over a year and half ago now, so it's hard to remember the details, but i know i didn´t have anything then(no residence card, no work permit, etc). I think if you guarantee that you will put a minimum amount there every month, then there is no problem. The bank I used was OpenBank(Paragon). Another bonus, i got a free weekend at a Parador for joining, AND the person who recommended me to join ALSO got a free weekend at a Parador. Nice eh? But i dunno if they still do that. Anyways, sorry i don't have more details. Just give them a call or check out their website and send them an email asking.
Saludos,
Rhonda

Hmm. I, too, thought anyone could open a bank account in Spain. I did, a long time ago, and my father did (and he never even lived there) at the Barclay's Bank in Plaza Colon. Your Visa card will be fine, and the cash station card (that's an ATM card, right?) as well.

If you do open an account, perhaps you should avoid Citibank. I opened an account with them for a few months in 1996, believing they would be helpful with my move back to the US. They ended up botching up everything I asked them to do. Eventually, all I had to do was walk through the door, and the manager would start apologizing. (This was in a branch off the calle Princesa, close to the Corte Ingles.) Over the years we found Caja Postal and Caja Madrid to be the best. Of course, things change day to day, and branch to branch. Good luck.

La Caixa has a non resident account, no problems.

Does this bank La Caixa exist in Barcelona considering that is where I will be?

That's VERY odd!! I swear I tried at 3 or 4 banks and they all told me the same. This included Caja Madrid , Banco de Santander , BBV , Barclay's , and Citibank . Maybe I looked like a "shady character" or something.

Rhonda, and you don't have residency or a student visa or something?? OpenBank, eh? I wonder if they're at www.openbank.com or .es? Hmm.. will have to try. (Nope. Nothing for either)

Asterault, like I said above, I could open an account at all those banks, but it would take something like $5,000 minimum deposit to do so. Maybe La Caixa doesn't operate this way for foreign, non-residents. Hmmmm.. Will have to check that out. Thanks!!!

Saludos, MadridMan

MM,
Ok i have a my residency and everything now, but back then i didn´t. And I know 5 other people who did the same, and at other banks(not only OpenBank, without visas and papers). Hmmmm...the number to OpenBank es 901247365. I know they have a website, but of course right now i can't seem to find it!
Anyways, if i can be of any help (call and ask questions for anyone) just let me know.
Saludos,
Rhonda

Ahhhh, ok found the website http://www.patagon.es or .com

La Caixa is from Barcelona but has offices everywhere in Spain (that I've seen). Ask for a 'cuenta non-residente'. I opened one with about 100.000 and that's all.

Of course, you have to get a cooperative person at the bank, but that goes without saying, this is Spain.

[This message has been edited by Asterault (edited 03-30-2001).]

Has anyone successfully opened a Spanish bank account from the US via the internet or mail? I am moving to Madrid in January,2002, and would like to open a savings account now, while the dollar is riding high. Besides the peseta will be phased out next year, and who knows how the euro will fare relative to the dollar.
Please share your experience. Thanks.

Addendum.....

I have contacted Patagon and la Caixa by email, and I can open a savings account via the internet. How safe is it to do such transaction via the internet? I am planning to open a sizable amount so I have to be careful. Thanks.

Starting September 15th 2001 all banks accounts will be automatically converted to Euros. This won't make any difference since we won't be able to get any Euros in cash until January 1st 2002. However, you'll get all the information in the new currency.

seul6--
I'm interested to hear how it works out for you.

Here's some thoughts: I wouldn't send that much money over the internet. Instead, would it be possible to have your bank transfer the money electronically? We did so into a friend's acct in Madrid. The transaction cost...ummm.... 0.005% of the amount we transferred. Of course, to do this, you'll need to have your acct. already "set up."

Please lmk--I may follow your lead and set up an acct. through the internet as well. Now is DEFINITELY the time!

picara

Regarding opening a non-resident account: before I had my residency, I opened an non-resident account first with BCH and then Banco Santander (now they're joined, so it's one and the same). They didn't ask for a minimum to open, and the only thing they wanted to see was my passport and put in an address outside of Spain. At the end of the fiscal year, they sent me a form (to my US address) to sign. Basically it stated that I was still a non-resident. This was, apparently, so that they they would not retain any taxes on interest or something like that. Anyway, I think you can open a non-resident account in all banks. As for opening a joint account with a Spaniard-- it is illegal, due to the fact that a non-resident pays no taxes in Spain.

That is right, the key resides on stating that you are non resident that wants to open a non-resident account. But if you tell your story...something like I live in Spain I don't have the residence card but I want to open an account the answer will be no way.

In fact one of the fiscal reports Bank of Spain likes most from the banks is the PNR balance listing (Non resident account balances)

Nevertheless,remember that the case of a US national and a EU national are totally different, the later should have no problem at all in opening a nonresident account.