Spanish banks, by comunidad autónoma
Spain consolidated its banking sector heavily after 2008, leaving a handful of large national groups alongside regional cooperatives and the remaining rural cajas. This directory covers every comunidad autónoma and the two autonomous cities with local rules, deposit protection and how to open an account.
How Spanish banking works
Spanish banking is dominated by groups that trade under several brands at once. A single banking licence often sits behind two or three familiar names — a high-street bank and its online-only subsidiary, for instance — which matters for how much of your money is protected. Alongside them sit the cajas rurales, cooperative banks that still do much of the agricultural lending, and Bizum, the domestic instant-payment system the banks run jointly.
The key insight. Deposit protection follows the banking licence, not the brand. Two brands that share one licence share one 100,000 EUR limit — so spreading money across familiar names is not the same as spreading it across institutions.
National banks
Santander
Bank
Largest Spanish bank by market cap. Global presence, strong in UK and Latin America.
BBVA
Bank
Second-largest Spanish bank. Strong in Mexico and Turkey.
CaixaBank
Bank
Formed from La Caixa savings bank. Largest retail network in Spain.
Sabadell
Bank
Catalan-origin bank with strong SME focus.
Bankinter
Bank
Mid-sized bank with digital focus and competitive rates.
Digital alternatives
N26
Bank
German-licensed digital bank operating in Spain. Mobile-first.
Revolut
Bank
UK-licensed fintech with multi-currency accounts. Not a full bank in Spain.
Bnext
Bank
Spanish fintech offering multi-currency cards and accounts.
Evo Banco
Bank
Online-only subsidiary of Nuevo Micro Bank (Santander group).
Openbank
Bank
Digital-only subsidiary of Santander. Competitive savings rates.
Browse banks by autonomous community
Select a autonomous community to see local banks, account opening requirements and regional banking practices.
Sources and verification
The regulatory details on this page come from the bodies that publish them, not from secondary summaries. Each was checked in September 2026.
- FGD — Fondo de Garantía de Depósitos — the Spanish deposit guarantee scheme, covering up to 100,000 EUR per holder per financial institution
- Banco de España — national central bank and the national competent authority for financial supervision in Spain
- National supervisory framework: Banco de España
Banking rules and product availability change. Always confirm details with the institution itself before acting. This page is educational information, not a recommendation of any provider. Last reviewed: September 2026.
Common questions
Do I need a Spanish address to open a bank account?
Most Spanish banks require proof of address dated within the last three months. A small number of banks offer non-resident accounts, but this is less common than in some other countries.
How much of my money is protected?
The FGD protects up to €100,000 per person, per institution. This is per bank, not per account.
What ID do I need?
A valid passport or national identity card. EU citizens can use their national ID card. Some banks also require a Spanish tax number (numéro fiscal).
Is my account covered if my bank is a former caja that merged?
Protection follows the banking licence, not the brand. Many former cajas now operate as brands inside a single licensed entity, so deposits at two of those brands may be covered once, up to 100,000 EUR. Ask the bank which legal entity holds your account.
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