| In Spain, successive waves of
mergers and acquisitions years have led to the creation of large banks
with unwieldy, compound names. Be warned that most of them are only
seriously interested in getting their grubby paws on people's savings
and disdain casual transactions such as changing money or cashing
traveller's cheques (and we are talking about high-street banks, here,
not merchant banks). In fact, many now offer the latter possibility
only to customers with an account, as though they were providing a
service. Some even refuse to allow you to open an account unless you
have your salary paid into it. As well, the standard of service varies
enormously from branch to branch, so a relatively benign judgement
below is no guarantee that you will not have problems.
In general, savings banks (called cajas) are a better bet
(though not much). Like their equivalents in other countries or
building societies in Britain, these organizations were originally
semi-charitable institutions intended to help working-class savers
buy property, for example. In recent years, however, they have heavily
modernized to compete with the banks.
This listing is not intended to be complete. Most of the websites
included are Spanish-only. Spain and Portugal for Visitors' assessment
refers to the bank, not the website.
Banco Atlántico
Not bad.
Banco
Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria
Of the poor choice you have, the BBVA is one of the better ones:
Banco Hispamer
Average.
Banco Santander
Central Hispano
Consistently snail-like, surly, obstructive staff - avoid the
BSCH if you have any choice.
Banco Popular
Not bad.
Banco
Sabadell
One of the best of a bad bunch, probably because it is Catalan in
origin. Good website, too, with lots of cultural surprises.
Bankinter
Usually pleasant, helpful staff, unhelpful bureaucracy.
La
Caixa
A Catalan savings bank and one of your best options, wherever you
are in Spain.
Caja
de Ahorros del Mediterráneo
I have no recent experience of this savings bank.
Caja Canarias
I have no experience of this savings bank.
Caja
Madrid
One of the best banks in Spain, admittedly faint praise.
Solbank
Part of the Sabadell Group. I have no experience of it.
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