In direct contrast to the UK, banking in Spain is almost a pleasurable experience, described by many as both relaxed yet extremely efficient. Banks show a warmness towards their clients, Spanish and foreigners alike, and you will find that after only a few visits to your branch, the manager and staff will usually be greeting you by name. Although more and more banks now employ staff who speak English, if you are not comfortable in discussing you finances in Spanish, it would be wise to check prior to opening an account with your chosen bank.

Opening a bank account in Spain is a simple and pain-free experience; you will only need your passport or residence permit, along with your NIE/NIF number. You have the choice of opening either a current account, known as a cuenta corrente, which usually carries a very low interest rate, if any. You can ask for a cheque book on this account but since Spain remains very much a cash and card society, with cheques rarely used, it is more usual to use a credit or debit card. In fact many businesses will not accept cheques and will insist on payment being made in cash or using a card. For regular payments, such as to utility companies and those due to your local town hall, simply take the relevant bill to your bank whereupon a direct debit can be set up with ease.

A savings book account, known as libreta de ahorro, is the second option and also carries a low interest rate. It does however give you a continuous record of your account and in some cases can be used in cash machines for withdrawing money.

For larger balances a fixed deposit account (cuenta de imposicion a plazo) may be appropriate. This operates in a similar fashion to UK fixed term deposits by giving you interest depending on the time period of the deposit and the amount deposited. The plus side is that banks can be bargained with about the terms offered.

Internet banking has taken off in a big way in recent years in Spain and more and more Spaniards are now using online services. Most banks offer Internet services and as long as you have a user name and password you can carry out most banking transactions online. The added bonus in using the internet is that the sites are generally multilingual, and are very easy to navigate.

Whichever you decide to opt for you must bear in mind that Spanish bank charges are still notoriously high, despite recent changes implemented by the larger banks. A large part of some banks' profit margins are made thanks to the charges paid by clients for just about every banking transaction imaginable. Charges are especially high for the payment of cheques into your account and for bank transfers. Before you open an account, ask for a breakdown of all charges, including annual fees. If you plan to make a lot of bank transfers every year, you should carefully consider how much it may cost you. Shopping around is a must.

Although the major national banks have branches in all cities and most towns, each region of Spain has its own banks with branches in almost every town within that region.