First Phrases

Opening a bank account · Español

Opening a bank account in Spanish: 12 survival phrases

Open an account as a newcomer: say what you want, hand over the right documents, ask about fees, cards and transfers, and find out where to sign.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). Use "usted". Spanish banks usually ask for your passport and your NIE (número de identidad de extranjero), and often a certificate of "empadronamiento" (registration at the town hall) or a rental contract. Many branches work by appointment.

How to read the sounds: Spanish is mostly read as written. In Spain, c before e/i and z sound like English th. h is silent. ñ = ny. rr is rolled. Stress is marked in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

Official names used

On this card: NIE, empadronamiento, IBAN. Spelling checked against official sites on 2026-10-20:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Quisiera abrir una cuenta bancaria.
    Say it like: kee-SYEH-rah ah-BREER OO-nah KWEN-tah ban-KAH-ryah
    I'd like to open a bank account.
    Register: Polite.
  2. 02Neutral
    Acabo de llegar a España. ¿Puedo abrir una cuenta?
    Say it like: ah-KAH-boh deh yeh-GAR ah es-PAH-nyah. PWEH-doh ah-BREER OO-nah KWEN-tah
    I've just arrived in Spain. Can I open an account?
    Register: Neutral.
  3. 03Neutral
    ¿Qué documentos necesito?
    Say it like: keh doh-koo-MEN-tohs neh-theh-SEE-toh
    What documents do I need?
    Register: Neutral.
  4. 04Polite
    Aquí tiene mi pasaporte y mi NIE.
    Say it like: ah-KEE TYEH-neh mee pah-sah-POR-teh ee mee EH-neh ee EH
    Here is my passport and my NIE (foreigner's ID number).
    Register: NIE is said by letters: "e-ne-i-e".
  5. 05Neutral
    Este es mi certificado de empadronamiento.
    Say it like: ES-teh es mee ser-tee-fee-KAH-doh deh em-pah-droh-nah-MYEN-toh
    This is my certificate of registration at the town hall (empadronamiento).
    Register: Also called "volante de empadronamiento".
  6. 06Neutral
    ¿Hay comisiones de mantenimiento?
    Say it like: eye koh-mee-SYOH-nehs deh man-teh-nee-MYEN-toh
    Are there monthly maintenance fees?
    Register: Ask before signing.
  7. 07Neutral
    ¿Cuánto cobran por las transferencias al extranjero?
    Say it like: KWAN-toh KOH-bran por lahs trans-feh-REN-thyahs al ex-tran-HEH-roh
    How much do you charge for transfers abroad?
    Register: "Cobran" = "you (all) charge", the bank as a whole.
  8. 08Polite
    Quisiera una tarjeta de débito.
    Say it like: kee-SYEH-rah OO-nah tar-HEH-tah deh DEH-bee-toh
    I'd like a debit card.
    Register: Polite.
  9. 09Neutral
    ¿Puedo usar la banca online y la aplicación?
    Say it like: PWEH-doh oo-SAR lah BAN-kah on-LINE ee lah ah-plee-kah-THYON
    Can I use online banking and the app?
    Register: Neutral.
  10. 10Polite
    ¿Me puede dar el IBAN de mi cuenta?
    Say it like: meh PWEH-deh dar el ee-BAN deh mee KWEN-tah
    Could you give me my account's IBAN?
    Register: IBAN starts with ES in Spain.
  11. 11Neutral
    ¿Cuándo recibiré la tarjeta?
    Say it like: KWAN-doh rreh-thee-bee-REH lah tar-HEH-tah
    When will I receive the card?
    Register: Neutral.
  12. 12Neutral
    ¿Dónde tengo que firmar?
    Say it like: DON-deh TEN-goh keh feer-MAR
    Where do I have to sign?
    Register: Read before you sign; ask for a copy.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the bank in Spanish?

Start with: "Quisiera abrir una cuenta bancaria." (I'd like to open a bank account.)

Should I use informal or formal Spanish at the bank?

Use "usted". Spanish banks usually ask for your passport and your NIE (número de identidad de extranjero), and often a certificate of "empadronamiento" (registration at the town hall) or a rental contract. Many branches work by appointment.

How do I ask which documents a bank needs in Spanish?

Try: "¿Qué documentos necesito?" (What documents do I need?)

Same errand, another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands

Spanish, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat

All 5 × 6 survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the errand and the language of the country you are in.
  2. Read the twelve phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. The official names of offices and numbers are checked against the official sites; native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Once you are settled, open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/bank/es/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint