Recommendations for a bank account with reasonable charges

What is "exorbitant"?

Sabadell is very good.  They charge 35 euro a quarter.

I hear that others charge less but it depends on the service and whether you need English speakers at your branch.

Kerry, I’m with Sabadell and find €35 a quarter is exorbitant. As far as I’m aware there are no English speaking staff in my branch in Antequera. They are not one of approved banks where I can pay any utility bills and I’m left wondering what I’m paying €140 per annum for. Please enlighten me.

We have paid in charges for the last 12 months on only one account, 331.35€ plus 36€ for our two debit cards!  That’s what I call exorbitant!  Then they have the cheek to charge us every month a further 5€ every time we transfer our rent money.

Solbank charge more than that.

It’s a different operating model to that of the uk I’m afraid.

Never seem to stop learning what goes on in Espana!  

My branch of Sabadell is good.   All my bill payments are on direct debit.  There are no exceptions to what I can pay from my Sabadell account, either DD or transfer.  I use the transfer feature without additional charge.

I pay 35e per quarter and nothing else.  

Santander certainly sounds outrageous!

Because of the often unavoidable and invariably irritating queuing (mostly based on memorising who was in the banking hall when you arrived) the only time I ever visit a bank is to pay my annual Spanish property tax and get a duplicate Form 210 stamped

The only reason being that a property’s Cadastral value is liable to annual review so the form has to be completed manually either by the owner or an agent

Other than the property tax everything is paid online via Sabadell mandates or transfers -  including local / regional taxes and utilities

There is also a very useful online screen for querying both Direct Debits and bill payees Eg cancelled payees still making application for payments

As a non-resident these arrangements are worthy of me paying account maintenance fees.

If I was to become a resident I’d seriously consider Cajamar Caja Rural (Cajamar Group)

Sabadell are very good and reasonable

Sabadel: i pay no charges and it’s all in English so no confusion. 

Just to be clear on this comment.  In order to have a free service with Sabadell one must have a regular influx of cash, pension, income, etc. and then there is no charge.

For those of us without that we pay 35 euro per quarter.