Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
Which bank would you recommend for opening a bank account with Spanish IBAN? Does anybody use N26 bank for expats?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“N26 is an easy option; as mentioned before you will get a Spanish IBAN which is required a lot by companies such as: power, gas, and water to charge for their services.
I will recommend you to open a Spanish bank account (Santander, BBVA, Caixabank, etc.) down the line since a lot of landlords and such will ask for local bank accounts; this can also be beneficial in order to apply for a mortgage or any type of loan as well as credit cards, since they will look at your history with them. Good Luck.”
“Openbank can offer this too. Very good platform, mobile and online. And no bank charges!!”
“Sure there are many options out there; I meant that some landlords are very picky with banks unknown to them and here in Spain lots of landlords are older people and are used to the typical banks… just my two cents. BTW Openbank is owned by Santander.”
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Explore Cities →“Just know you cannot pay your Spanish taxes with N26. You might get a Spanish IBAN, but it is not a Spanish bank, it’s German. The Tax Agency does not accept any payments from N26.”
“I have N26 and Openbank. They are both good. I prefer Openbank as it is a full service bank so can satisfy more of your lifetime requirements. They have a very good English speaking team who will call you and help with any issues.”
“Use this link to open an N26 account to get 10€ if you open an account and spend 10€ with its card: https://app.n26.com/referral/brunob7062 “
“Openbank is free banking Santanders on line bank so all ATM’s of Santander are also free. Easy to pay in too.”
“N26 is good, one of the easiest to open and has a Spanish IBAN.”
Conclusion
For digital nomads relocating to Spain, selecting the right bank is crucial for managing financial transactions effectively. While N26 offers convenience and a Spanish IBAN, it may not be suitable for all financial needs, such as paying Spanish taxes.
Traditional Spanish banks like Santander or OpenBank might be preferable for long-term financial engagements like loans, mortgages, and dealing with local entities like landlords who favor familiar institutions.
OpenBank, in particular, combines digital ease with the robust support of a traditional bank, making it a favorable option for those seeking comprehensive banking solutions.
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