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BASIC PAYMENT ACCOUNT

An account with all the essential financial services

  • Debit card with no issuance or maintenance fees for purchases and to take out cash at CaixaBank ATMs.
  • 120 free payment transactions a year to direct debit bills and make transfers within the EU.
  • Access to online banking from your mobile and computer.
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  • Maintenance fee of €3/month (free if you are in a vulnerable situation).

  • You do not have to take out any other products or services to open this account.

  • Apply at a CaixaBank branch.

What is a basic payment account?

It is an account that lets you carry out essential operations, such as sending and receiving money, paying for purchases, or withdrawing cash, and can be opened by anyone living in the EU who does not already have a payment account in Spain.

  • It can be denied in exceptional cases (you can see the conditions at the bottom of the page.)
  • It has no maintenance fee if you are in a vulnerable situation.
  • You do not have to take out any other products or services to open this account.

HOW TO OPEN YOUR BASIC PAYMENT ACCOUNT

Steps to open a basic payment account

  1. Go to a CaixaBank branch

    You will have to provide an official ID document (see the FAQs for more information).

  2. Provide your socio-economic details

    To comply with the money laundering prevention act.

  3. Sign the contracts

    Includes the rules for your relationship with CaixaBank, and the digital banking and debit card contracts.

  4. Additional checks

    Only if necessary, we will provide you with an application form to sign and inform you of the decision within 10 days.

FAQs about the basic payment account

    • Reside in a European Union country.
    • Use it only for your personal or household expenses (buy clothes, food, pay bills, transportation, leisure, etc.) and for your personal income (salary, social benefits, etc.).
    • If you are self-employed, you can't use the account to manage your business.
    • Not have another payment account open in Spain.
    • Provide the legal documentation needed to open the account and comply with the Anti-Money Laundering Law.
    • Not pose a risk to national security.

  • It includes a debit card with no issuance or maintenance fees.

  • This account lets you do essential banking transactions:

    • Deposit and withdraw cash at:
      • ATMs of CaixaBank and other authorised banks.
      • CaixaBank branches with a teller service.
    • Check your balance and transactions at:
      • ATMs of CaixaBank and certain other banks.
      • CaixaBank's commercial branches that have a teller service.
      • CaixaBank's digital bank.
    • Set up your bill payments (direct debit). For example, electricity, water or gas. At the end of the month, the bill will be debited automatically (free for bills in euros within the EU).
    • Direct deposit your income (salary, pension, social benefits…).
    • Make and receive Bizum payments or transfers from a branch or online.

  • You can make up to 120 transactions a year in euros within the EU with no fees, including:

    • Direct debits (such as electricity or water bills).
    • Transfers.
    • Standing orders.

    If you exceed this limit, fees will apply, but they will not exceed CaixaBank's standard rates.

    You can view these rates on the Bank of Spain website.

  • If you are a Spanish national: 

    • DNI.

    If you are a foreign national:

    • Residence permit.
    • TIE (Foreigner Identity Card).
    • Passport.
    • EU citizen certificate with an NIE and address in Spain.
    • NIE or proof of asylum application.

We explain the details of the basic payment account

Does the basic payment account pay interest?

No, the Basic Payment Account does not pay interest. 0% NIR, -0.718% AER if you keep €5,000 for one year and pay a maintenance fee of €36/year (€3/month).

If you are in a vulnerable situation (you meet the requirements of Royal Decree 164/2019, of 22/3), the basic payment account may be completely free. 0% NIR, 0% AER.

What are the conditions for the basic payment account?

  • It may be denied in exceptional cases, as per RDL 19/2017 of 24/11.
  • It has no maintenance fee if you are in a vulnerable situation and meet the requirements of Royal Decree 164/2019.
  • You do not have to take out any other products or services to open this account.

Pre-contractual information on the basic payment account

Fee information document - Basic payment account

List of most the representative services associated with a payment account

What happens if I can't open the basic payment account right away?

If additional checks are required, we will give you an application form for you to sign.

We will let you know within 10 days if it has been accepted:

  • If it is approved, you must go to the branch to complete the process.
  • If it is rejected, you can submit a claim to CaixaBank Customer Service.

How to apply for a free basic payment account

You can request it free of charge if you are in a situation of social vulnerability or at risk of financial exclusion and you satisfy the requirements of RD 164/2019:

  1. Your annual income (and that of your household) must be below the following limits:
    • 3 times the IPREM if you live alone.
    • 3.5 times the IPREM if there are fewer than 4 of you.
    • 4 times the IPREM if there are 4 or more of you or if you have a large family.
    • 4 times the IPREM if there is a person with a recognised disability (≥33%).
  2. No member of the household owns, directly or indirectly, real estate (except for the primary residence) nor holds shares in commercial companies.

If approved, it will be free for two years. If you are victim of trafficking or sexual exploitation, you can request it free of charge without meeting the above requirements.

Prove your situation with the following documents:

  • Number of members in the household: family book or certificate of civil union.
  • Household income: Income certificate or proof of submission of the Wealth Tax return.
  • Last three payslips.
  • Certificate of unemployment benefits or subsidies.
  • Certificate of welfare payments or minimum insertion income.
  • If you are self-employed, certificate of benefits for cessation of activity.
  • If you do not have these documents, a report from social services of the city or town where you are registered.
  • For victims of trafficking or sexual exploitation, a report issued by social services or specialised entities.

Also, in an effort to streamline the process, CaixaBank also accepts reports issued by social workers from the following entities: Cruz Roja Española, Cáritas Española, ACCEM, Fundación Cruz Blanca, Fundación Secretariado Gitano, Fundación Cepaim.

The bank will process your request for a fee waiver within 30 days from the date you submit all the documentation.

Debit card issued by the hybrid payment institution CaixaBank Payments & Consumer.

CaixaBank Payments & Consumer, E.F.C., E.P., S.A.U. (“CPC”), with registered office at Avenida de Manoteras nº 20, Edificio París (28050 Madrid). CaixaBank, S.A. acts as the agent of the card issuing entity. The system chosen by CPC to protect the funds of payment service users is to deposit them in a separate account opened with CaixaBank, S.A.

NRI: 9515-2026/09542

An account with all the essential services

An account with all the essential services

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