Opening Bank Account before moving over
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Opening Bank Account before moving over
Does anybody know if it's possible to open a bank account in Spain before moving over, ie before having a Spanish address and can it be done online or would I need to come over to open it?
I'm moving over in October/November this year but would like to have an account sorted before I come. Preferably one with a branch in Torrox
I'm moving over in October/November this year but would like to have an account sorted before I come. Preferably one with a branch in Torrox
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Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
I assume I will need my NIE number before opening an account? - is it still possible to get this in Manchester? I am hoping to get over in the next couple of months but there are things I would like to know I can do here so any advice would be fab
Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
We opened an account with sabadell in january. we move over next week. they didnt require an NIE. seems some banks do some dont. we opened it in person.
Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
i believe the manchester embassy shut a few years ago
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Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
Okay, that's great, thanks
Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
Its so easy to open a bank account when here, its immediate.......and if you arrange with a forex company to hold your funds you want to send over they can then forward them to your account in Spain as soon as you know the IBAN numbers......imho a much better option than going with Sabadell for lack of any choice.....
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Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
Thanks for that, is there a bank you would recommend? I'm wondering, I have a Santander account here in the UK and I know Santander is a Spanish bank, so could I just change it to a Spanish account? I don't know much about how banks work etc, so excuse my ignorance if that's a daft idea
Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
Choose a bank that has a branch near where you are going to live.
Go into the branches near you and speak to the manager. Ask him how much they will charge you for their services.
Cheers
Gerry
Go into the branches near you and speak to the manager. Ask him how much they will charge you for their services.
Cheers
Gerry
Gerry Harris
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Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
Thanks Gerry, I'm still in the UK at the moment, just trying to get as much information as possible before moving over and do as much as I can from here
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Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
It is in my humble opinion not necessary for to open an account in advance as with cash card and credit card you can work indefinitely as long as your not buying property or the other utilities that it is a requirement to have the said NIE.... there is also the option of getting cashcard as this way you could manage to buy the currency when the rates are more favourable. If you are thinking of closing UK and making a definitive move it is a completely different scenario...
regards
regards
Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
Slightly off topic perhaps, but...
Didn't I read somewhere, that since this year, direct debits can be sent outside the country to any bank in Europe using the IBAN number?
I don't know how this would work with a country outside the Eurozone, i.e. the UK - has anyone tried it?
Didn't I read somewhere, that since this year, direct debits can be sent outside the country to any bank in Europe using the IBAN number?
I don't know how this would work with a country outside the Eurozone, i.e. the UK - has anyone tried it?
Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
santander uk and spain are totally different theres no real connection interms of your account. although if you keep your uk santander account and have at least £500 a month going in you get free cash withdrawls at spanish santanders cash machinesElVochoClassico wrote:Thanks for that, is there a bank you would recommend? I'm wondering, I have a Santander account here in the UK and I know Santander is a Spanish bank, so could I just change it to a Spanish account? I don't know much about how banks work etc, so excuse my ignorance if that's a daft ideaChica56 wrote:Its so easy to open a bank account when here, its immediate.......and if you arrange with a forex company to hold your funds you want to send over they can then forward them to your account in Spain as soon as you know the IBAN numbers......imho a much better option than going with Sabadell for lack of any choice.....
Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
Yes works both ways between UK and Spain.White Horse wrote: I don't know how this would work with a country outside the Eurozone, i.e. the UK - has anyone tried it?
Cheers
Gerry
Gerry Harris
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Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
It is a permanent move so I am looking at definitely opening a Spanish account, just trying to work out the bet way to do it and whether I can do it before I get there or not and are there any banks that are better than others
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Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
Hi,
As many have pointed out a local branch near where you live is a must............
Sabadell are more expensive (maintenance fees) compared to the Caja Rural Group.
As many have pointed out a local branch near where you live is a must............
Sabadell are more expensive (maintenance fees) compared to the Caja Rural Group.
All my best learning experiences start with a problem I need to solve.
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Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
Thanks, it looks like I'll be over in May so will sort it out then. Thanks everyone for your help
Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
I did a google search under "bancos en Torrox" and it came up with a list in Yellow Pages (Paginas Amarillos) for Entidad Bancarias en Torrox ... that will at least tell you in advance what your choice is, then look up each on their web pages and you will have some amunition ready for when you come over ... they rarely post their interest rates and details of their charges, but some may
Many banks here in spain will offer commision-free current accounts but you will need to qualify - eg have your electricity and a couple of other regular bills paid through them via direct debits, AND have a regular source of income - otherwise you need to shop around for the cheapest for VISA card annual charges, receiving transfer charges, etc etc.
As other posters have said, it does pay to get to know the staff and manager of your local bank, especially as you get your foot in the door. If you have an estate agent or accountant/gestor already you may find their advice useful too.
Cheers and good luck in your new venture
Many banks here in spain will offer commision-free current accounts but you will need to qualify - eg have your electricity and a couple of other regular bills paid through them via direct debits, AND have a regular source of income - otherwise you need to shop around for the cheapest for VISA card annual charges, receiving transfer charges, etc etc.
As other posters have said, it does pay to get to know the staff and manager of your local bank, especially as you get your foot in the door. If you have an estate agent or accountant/gestor already you may find their advice useful too.
Cheers and good luck in your new venture
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- Andalucia.com Amigo
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Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
That's very helpful, thanks very much, I'll have a google tomorrow and hopefully popping over in May so I can get the process started, NIE number etc if possible
Thanks again
Thanks again
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Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
Hi, Sabadell isn't a bad choice if you were wanting to open an account before you went over to Spain, their website is one of the better ones and you can access it in English. As far as bank charges etc? I think that they run an account where they do not charge to receive transfers from the Uk. Even if they turn out to be a little more expensive than some you could always change to a new account when you arrive in Spain and settle,afterall I think the aim of your post was to hopefully have a bank account in place before you arrive. Best wishes.
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Re: Opening Bank Account before moving over
Brilliant Pamela, thanks for that. I'll get online now and have a look at them
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