Jul 10, 2010 · ROB1305
Proper Spanish banks have English speaking staff if that is your concern. Halifax have very few branches and do not have the range of facilities a genuine Spanish bank does. Remember not to close your English bank accounts if you are moving over.
Jul 12, 2010 · BuenosDiasPet
The main advantage to Halifax is that you can open a linked Banco Halifax Hispania acct in Spain and transfer currency fee-free between the two - so if your income is in sterling you can convert it, etc. Our local branch speaks fantastic English... however they often have to use their linguistic skills to apologise politely for the fact they can't pay my autonomos, hacienda, etc etc, as they don't offer full banking services. And if you have regular monthly transfers to make, a broker will always get you a better rate, even if they charge a fee it often works out preferable to bank rates,
BDP x
Oct 19, 2010 · susanspain
The only story I have heard about them is that they froze and closed a friends account. But she was putting in regular monthly (salary) cheques, without being resident registered/declaring tax.
I find that Cajamar are great as they charge nothing to have/maintain an account (as long as you have at least one regular payment in/out a month. I have my mob phone bill on Direct Debit). If you are charged, they are not OTT.
I used to be with Unicaja, but I paid Eu40 pa for nothing!!!