Bank account for asylum seekers

Basic Payment Account

Open your account
by calling (+34) 91 177 33 37
or stop by our branch at
Paseo de la Castellana, 134.

Account designed for:

Legal residents in the EU, even without a fixed address; asylum seekers; and/or individuals without a residence permit who cannot be extradited and do not have a payment account in Spain. 

Basic banking

Deposits, cash withdrawals, transfers, and access to your account from the customer area on our website and app.

Payment transactions within the EU

Bill payments by direct debit, transfers and debit card payments.

Stay as long as you want

Close your account at any time with no cancellation fees.

Find out more by calling (+34) 91 177 33 37 or stop by our branch at Paseo de la Castellana, 134.

Want to learn more about our Basic Payment Account?

What is the Basic Payment Account?

The Basic Payment Account is a non-interest-bearing account in euros that enables the basic and usual banking of a current account. It has been designed for people who meet any of the following criteria and declare that they do not have a payment account with another bank in Spain:

(a) Legal resident in the EU, including those without a fixed address.

b)  Asylum seekers.

(c) Those without a residence permit but who cannot be extradited for legal or factual reasons.

When you open a Basic Payment Account, you will also be taking out a free debit card that you can use to access the money in your account.

What transactions can I carry out with the Basic Payment Account?

With the Basic Payment Account you can carry out the following basic payment transactions within the EU:

a) Deposit and withdraw cash into/from the account, and close it at any time.

b) Withdraw cash at ATMs and in our branch.

c) Pay by debit card, if you have applied for one.

d) Pay bills by direct debit.

e) Make transfers, including setting up standing orders at our branches or using the customer's online banking service.

Does this account have interest?

No, the Basic Payment Account is a non-interest bearing current account.

What costs does the Basic Payment Account have?

The Basic Payment Account has no opening and maintenance costs*.

Fees for debit card withdrawals at ATMs:

  • At ATMs of other financial institutions in Spain, other than Banco Santander and Popular, the fee applied by the bank that owns the ATM will be charged to the customer, who will be informed before withdrawing the cash.
  • At ATMs of other financial institutions in EU countries: the fee applied by the bank that owns the ATM will be charged to the customer in each case (not exceeding 0.20% of the withdrawal amount plus €1.30).
  • At ATMs of other non-EU banks: 4.50% of the amount withdrawn, with a minimum of €3.50.

*0% NIR, 0% APR. Representative example of remuneration with a constant balance of €10,000 during the first year at 0% annual nominal interest (0% APR), remuneration of €0 gross per year.

How can you open your Basic Payment Account?

To open the Basic Payment Account, you can call us on (+34) 91 177 33 37, or you can stop by  our branch at Paseo de la Castellana, 134, 28046 Madrid.To open the Basic Payment Account, we need:

  • Identification document (National identification document or equivalent document)
  • Know Your Customer form and information required by the Bank in compliance with the Money Laundering Act

Please note that you can use the alternative dispute or litigation resolution system, as provided for under first additional provision of Spanish Law 7/2017, of 2 November, which implements Directive 2013/11/EU, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 21 May 2013, on the alternative resolution of consumer disputes, into Spanish legislation.

What is the Basic Payment Account?

The Basic Payment Account is a non-interest-bearing account in euros that enables the basic and usual banking of a current account. It has been designed for people who meet any of the following criteria and declare that they do not have a payment account with another bank in Spain:

(a) Legal resident in the EU, including those without a fixed address.

b)  Asylum seekers.

(c) Those without a residence permit but who cannot be extradited for legal or factual reasons.

When you open a Basic Payment Account, you will also be taking out a free debit card that you can use to access the money in your account.

What transactions can I carry out with the Basic Payment Account?

With the Basic Payment Account you can carry out the following basic payment transactions within the EU:

a) Deposit and withdraw cash into/from the account, and close it at any time.

b) Withdraw cash at ATMs and in our branch.

c) Pay by debit card, if you have applied for one.

d) Pay bills by direct debit.

e) Make transfers, including setting up standing orders at our branches or using the customer's online banking service.

Does this account have interest?

No, the Basic Payment Account is a non-interest bearing current account.

What costs does the Basic Payment Account have?

The Basic Payment Account has no opening and maintenance costs*.

Fees for debit card withdrawals at ATMs:

  • At ATMs of other financial institutions in Spain, other than Banco Santander and Popular, the fee applied by the bank that owns the ATM will be charged to the customer, who will be informed before withdrawing the cash.
  • At ATMs of other financial institutions in EU countries: the fee applied by the bank that owns the ATM will be charged to the customer in each case (not exceeding 0.20% of the withdrawal amount plus €1.30).
  • At ATMs of other non-EU banks: 4.50% of the amount withdrawn, with a minimum of €3.50.

*0% NIR, 0% APR. Representative example of remuneration with a constant balance of €10,000 during the first year at 0% annual nominal interest (0% APR), remuneration of €0 gross per year.

How can you open your Basic Payment Account?

To open the Basic Payment Account, you can call us on (+34) 91 177 33 37, or you can stop by  our branch at Paseo de la Castellana, 134, 28046 Madrid.To open the Basic Payment Account, we need:

  • Identification document (National identification document or equivalent document)
  • Know Your Customer form and information required by the Bank in compliance with the Money Laundering Act

Please note that you can use the alternative dispute or litigation resolution system, as provided for under first additional provision of Spanish Law 7/2017, of 2 November, which implements Directive 2013/11/EU, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 21 May 2013, on the alternative resolution of consumer disputes, into Spanish legislation.