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Date Published: 14/10/2024

Closing your Spanish bank account from abroad

You do not need to be in Spain to close your bank account

Navigating Spanish banks can be challenging. Opening and closing accounts for foreigners is not always easy. Many people who live in Spain for a short amount of time will have a bank account.

However, it may be possible that they failed to close the account before leaving the country. Therefore, the account will need to be closed from abroad. Though difficult, closing an account from abroad is not impossible.

Below is a guide to all there is to know about banks, and how to close accounts from abroad.

Closing your account

First of all, when it comes to closing a bank account in Spain, it is important to understand that there is no universal guideline or rule for closing a Spanish bank account from abroad.

According to Banco de España (the Bank of Spain), “An account can always be cancelled at any time and without prior notice. Within 24 hours of the request, the entity must have closed it.”

However, in reality, the process is not always straightforward. In Spain there are no regulations specifying the exact steps for closing an account. Consequently, individual banks have the discretion to determine the method for account termination.

The Bank of Spain’s Banking Client Portal specifies if a bank has specific requirements for account closure, these requirements should have been included in the contract and disclosed to the client when opening the account. Therefore, your initial contract should have indicated whether an in-person closure is mandatory.

When a bank bases the majority of its operations online it is usually possible for an account to be closed online. Such banks include N26, Revolut, EVO Banco, Openbank and ING.

However, if a bank is more conventional, with a physical presence throughout the country, it generally requires all account holders, including joint account holders, to visit a branch in person to close an account, often at the original branch where the account was opened. Such banks as Santander, CaixaBank, Sabadell and others would fall under this category.

While this can be inconvenient for clients who have relocated either within Spain or overseas, banks argue that each opened account is a metric for a particular branch’s performance, and therefore the most significant transactions, such as account closure, must be handled by that branch.

In the case of the UK, where you can also find Santander banks, take note that closing your Spanish account won’t be possible there either, as the banks work completely independently in different countries.

How to close a Spanish bank account from abroad

For those whose bank does allow them to close an account remotely, there are various methods available for closing your Spanish bank account.

One of the easiest ways to close a bank account in Spain, if your bank offers this service, is online. If your bank account was opened online, you can usually request its closure through the same online banking platform.

However, some banks may require you to visit the branch and sign the cancellation of the account and return your cards and cheque books even if you close the account online. Hence, you should check with your bank to ensure that your account has been closed completely.

Another option is requesting its closure through a phone call. In this case, you may have to provide additional information such as passwords and signature keys. Note that the telephone assistance of most banks will be in Spanish, although some banks such as Banco Sabadell claim to offer customer service in English.

Closing your Spanish bank account by sending a letter or email

If closing your account online or via phone is not an option, the most recommended way to do it remotely is by sending a certified letter. The letter should state your desire to close the account and clarify that you are not present in the country.

The letter should include your full name, address, and a copy of your ID number (such as a green residency certificate or TIE), along with the name of the bank, branch number, and the account you want to close.

Some banks, you’ll also be able to cancel your account via email, something that is usually specified on the bank’s website. EVO Banco, for example, provides its clients with a form and a specific email address in which an account can be closed by

following just a few simple steps.

What if the bank will not let me close my bank account remotely?

If all the previously mentioned methods have been unsuccessful and your bank insists on signing the necessary paperwork in person at the branch, it is recommended to seek legal advice. A lawyer can provide guidance on the further steps you may need to take to close your Spanish bank account.

If the issue arises because you moved to a different part of Spain and the bank requires you to close the account at the original branch, it is advisable to visit a nearby branch and make it your reference branch (sucursal de referencia) before attempting to cancel. Keep in mind that not all branches may allow this and it will depend on each individual bank.

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