- Neobanks (Wise, Revolut, N26): can typically be opened before you even arrive, or without a NIE, using just a passport and home address — gives you a Spanish IBAN (ES…) for rent and utilities. These aren’t licensed Spanish banks, though, so for mortgages or certain formal business registrations you’ll still need a real Spanish bank account.
- Traditional Spanish banks (Sabadell, BBVA, Santander, CaixaBank): offer “non-resident” accounts openable with just a passport, but with limited features (often no international transfers, in-branch visits required). Non-resident status is re-verified roughly every 6 months, and you need to notify the bank once you become a resident.
- Openbank (Santander’s digital arm) is specifically flagged as an easy option once you have a NIE, with English support and no fees.
Practical tip: branch staff often don’t speak much English and may not be familiar with the non-resident product — bring translated paperwork or a Spanish-speaking friend.
Next step: once your account’s open, you can register as autónomo if you’re self-employed, and get a local SIM.