Banking question

Yes, you can still keep your UK Bank account. You will need to open a Spanish Bank Account to pay all the  Local Utility Bills by Direct Debit such as IBI (Local Taxes) , Water, Electricity,Telephone etc. Suggest you transfer Euros from UK to Spain using one of the recognized Foreign Exchange Transfer Companies. The Spanish Local Banks encourage their Account Holders to pay 600 Euros or more or even your Pension per Month  to  take advantage of reduced Quarterly Bank Commission. If becoming a permanent Residents  you will be taxed on your World wide assets in Spain

Hope this helps

Nigel

That’s great thank you. we do intend to open a Spanish bank account probably with Santander as that’s who we are with in the UK as we know we require one.  
thought it would also be easier using the same bank and transfers would be easy buy apparently that’s not the case.  

For what it’s worth. 

We moved from Portugal to Spain, where we had an account with Santander. Like you, we thought it would make sense to open Santander in Spain also.

However, we have had nothing but trouble with long waits, staff incessantly chatting, no one speaking any English c/w Portugal and rudeness.

Read Trustpilot reviews of Santander from both English and Spanish customers.

There is no email mechanism to communicate. Letters have been written (in Spanish), but no replies received.

We are moving to BBVA.

Consider opening a Cajamar "Wefferent" online account - no charges unless you go in-branch, and/or a Wise (formerly Transferwise).

Thanks for getting back.

The BBVA account is online, but required showing a photo TIE in one of their branches.

Does Cajamar require the same evidence?

From what we understand, the Green NIE was only suitable prior to Brexit.

We opened the account, initially as non-residents, at our local branch (having made an appointment) using our passports, NIE numbers, and rental contract for proof of address. We didn't have our TIEs at that point, although we do now. 

N.B.The Green paper is the pre-Brexit Residencia (not to be confused with a NIE, which is similar to a UK NI number), which may be still useful as it is not yet compulsory to exchange it for a TIE card.

Thanks for that info.

We opened another account prior to Brexit with just our passports and NIE numbers.

Like you, we hadn’t received our Green Residencias, but it seems that, these days, the banks require the photo TIE.

Anyway, we have to get the TIEs sometime, but will keep trying.

Thank you again for your help.

I wouldn't bother opening a local account, they are expensive and hassle and I wouldn't give any Spanish outfit a DD. Use N26, Wise or Revolut, all free. I can pay all my house and car bills through these easily online(Malaga).

There were recently a lot of articles in the UK national press about UK banks threatening post-brexit to close accounts where the holders no longer held a UK address. Not sure if any banks have actually implemented this yet...