Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
We need a bank account with a debit card for hiring a car. Looking for bank recommendations for Spanish NIE requirements.
Will be using online for bills etc – no direct debits or salary going in – so looking for one with no or low monthly charges if possible.. Will be using online for bills etc – no direct debits or salary going in – so looking for one with no or low monthly charges if possible.
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These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
“Wise account, we pay all our bill using wise. Based in Belgium so seems to be no problem”
“Bankinter is very good. I have an NIE but they charge €30 twice a year for having the joint account and the bank card.”
“”Wise account, Spanish banks are not safe, cheap or any good.”
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Explore Cities →“Good luck finding one with no charges. We’re with Caixa and it’s €35 a quarter..”
“I contacted Caixabank last week about the 60€/quarter fee charged. I was told that if I pay in my monthly pension or salary payments the fee will be reduced to 15€/quarter. If I also set up 3 direct debits then I will pay no fee at all. In addition they immediately cancelled the 3€ monthly fee for additional card insurance. My Sabadell account discounts their fee on a similar basis but not to zero. So I will be spreading my banking across the two accounts and save 240€/annum.
Sometimes it is just a question of asking if there is another account with lower fees, or if there is a way of organising your transactions on your existing account to reduce the fees.”
“Our standard Santander current account has no charges”
“N26, no charges, been using the app for years.”
“Thusfar two banks have received Kydos: BBVA and ING. Santander are highway robbersc- we are with them now but not much longer”
“Age is a factor. We are retirement age and the manager at our branch of BANKINTER had to register us as non resident and therefore subject to charges. He told us that as soon as our TIE application was completed, to call at the bank and he would change our account to a pensioners resident account which doesn’t attract any charges.”
“Bbva does a nice and simple online account. No bs. No nonsense. No charges. No need to stand on one foot with a chicken under 1 arm and a pig under the other etc”
“Cajamar rural ,mo charges with online only banking .Does have physical branches .”
“If you are a non-resident then you will be unlikely to be able to open a normal account with zero charges
Most banks will offer non-resident accounts but there will be a quarterly charge
Once you have your residency either with a TIE or Green EU resident card you will be able to change the account to a resident version, or open one with a different bank”
“You will struggle to get the free online versions available if you only have a NIE number. I looked for ages and couldn’t.
We ended up with Cajamar, who so far have been great, it’s free banking as we have their home insurance, or 15 euros a quarter without ( I think)
Also use Wise, but I think some utilities or communities don’t allow direct debits from them”
“Openbank”
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