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Spanish · Admin & banking · Elementary

How to open a bank account in Spain

Say “Quiero abrir una cuenta” and ask “¿Qué documentos necesito para abrir una cuenta?”. Banks usually ask for your passport and NIE, and often a padrón certificate. Then check the fees: “¿Esta cuenta tiene comisiones?” and “¿Hay que domiciliar la nómina para no pagar comisiones?”.

Try it · about two minutes

At a bank branch you ask which documents you need and which fees apply to open a current account.

Sound on: the bank clerk speaks Spanish. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

  1. Bank clerk

    Dígame, ¿en qué puedo ayudarle?

    Hello, how can I help you?

    You

    Quiero abrir una cuenta.

    I’d like to open an account.

  2. Bank clerk

    ¿Me enseña su pasaporte?

    Could I see your passport?

    You

    Sí, aquí tiene.

    Yes, here you are.

  3. Bank clerk

    ¿Es usted residente en España?

    Are you a resident in Spain?

    You

    Sí, vivo aquí desde hace un año.

    Yes, I’ve lived here for a year.

  4. Bank clerk

    Necesitamos su certificado de empadronamiento.

    We need your certificate of registration at your address.

    You

    Aquí lo tiene.

    Here it is.

  5. Bank clerk

    ¿Va a domiciliar la nómina?

    Will you be having your salary paid in here?

    You

    ¿Hay que domiciliar la nómina para no pagar comisiones?

    Do I have to have my salary paid in to avoid fees?

  6. Bank clerk

    Si domicilia la nómina, la cuenta no tiene comisiones.

    If you have your salary paid in, the account has no fees.

    You

    Perfecto. ¿Y cuándo tendré la tarjeta?

    Great. And when will I get the card?

  7. Bank clerk

    Le llegará la tarjeta a casa en unos días.

    Your card will arrive at your home in a few days.

    You

    Muchas gracias.

    Thank you very much.

Key phrases

  • Quiero abrir una cuenta.

    I’d like to open an account.

  • ¿Necesito cita previa?

    Do I need an appointment?

  • ¿Qué documentos necesito para abrir una cuenta?

    What documents do I need to open an account?

  • Aquí tiene mi pasaporte.

    Here’s my passport.

  • Ya tengo el NIE.

    I already have my NIE.

  • ¿Es usted residente en España?

    Are you a resident in Spain?

  • Necesitamos su certificado de empadronamiento.

    We need your certificate of registration at your address.

  • ¿Esta cuenta tiene comisiones?

    Are there any fees on this account?

  • ¿Hay que domiciliar la nómina para no pagar comisiones?

    Do I have to have my salary paid in to avoid fees?

  • ¿Puedo abrir una cuenta si todavía no tengo el NIE?

    Can I open an account if I don’t have my NIE yet?

Good to know in Spain

What banks usually ask for

  1. 1

    Your passport.

    Here’s my passport.
  2. 2

    Your NIE, if you have one.

    I already have my NIE.
  3. 3

    Often, a padrón certificate showing your address.

    We need your certificate of registration at your address.

Fees and the nómina

Many current accounts are fee-free only if you have your salary paid in or meet other conditions. Ask what the conditions are before you sign.

¿Esta cuenta tiene comisiones?

Are there any fees on this account?

No NIE yet?

Some banks offer a non-resident account until you have your NIE. What they ask for varies, so check with the branch.

¿Puedo abrir una cuenta si todavía no tengo el NIE?

Can I open an account if I don’t have my NIE yet?

Usted at the bank

At the bank

¿Me enseña su pasaporte?

Could I see your passport?

Casual

¿Me enseñas tu pasaporte?

Could I see your passport? (casual)

Bank staff usually speak to customers as usted, so answer the same way.

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Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.