When I first moved to Spain, I rushed to a nearby physical bank to open an account for my residency permit and salary. After a few years, I got fed up with all the management and maintenance fees, not to mention their terrible app that would lag just trying to make a transfer. On a friend’s recommendation, I looked into a few online banks in Spain and eventually switched to ING. I’ve been using it for nearly three years now, and overall, it’s been a great experience. Today, I want to share my review as a regular user to help those of you who are trying to decide which bank to choose.
Why Did I Choose ING?
At the time, I was mainly considering a few key points:
- No Harsh Fees: This was my top priority. Traditional banks are constantly charging account management fees and annual card fees, which is incredibly annoying. ING’s main selling point is being fee-free. As long as you meet some simple conditions, most daily operations are free, which is a huge relief.
- Reputation and Scale: Although it’s an online bank, ING has a large presence and user base in Spain. It’s not like some new, smaller banks that can make you feel a bit uneasy. After all, when it comes to your money, safety and stability come first.
- Convenient Account Opening: The entire opening process can be completed online, so you don’t need to go to an office and wait in line, which for an introvert like me is a godsend. You just upload your NIE, fill out some details, and you’re done quickly, without dealing with physical hardware like Ingenico terminals.
The Two Accounts I Use: Cuenta Nómina and Cuenta NoCuenta
I currently use two main accounts at ING: one for my salary and another as a savings and backup account. These two cover most of my daily needs. Here’s a simple comparison of their features:
| Feature | Cuenta Nómina | Cuenta NoCuenta |
|---|
| Key Advantage | Completely free, no management fees | Free for the first four months, after which conditions must be met or a small fee applies |
| Opening Requirements | Requires a regular monthly income deposit | No proof of regular income required |
| Debit/Credit Card | Provides free debit and credit cards | Only a virtual debit card is provided free of charge; a physical card can be requested for a fee. This is something to keep in mind when opening an ING bank account. |
| Cash Withdrawal | Free withdrawals at its own ATMs and designated partner banks | Same withdrawal policy as the Nómina account |
| Best For | Salaried employees with stable jobs or pensioners | Students, freelancers, or for use as a secondary savings account |
If you have a stable job, just go for the Cuenta Nómina; it offers the most comprehensive services. If you’re a student or have an irregular income, the Cuenta NoCuenta is a great choice as a transitional account or a separate savings pot, a solid option for anyone using ING in Spain. Their app is also very intuitive—making transfers, checking statements, and setting up Bizum is incredibly smooth, much better than the app from my old traditional bank. Of course, it’s not without its drawbacks. For instance, there are very few physical branches, so complex issues have to be resolved by calling customer service, which can sometimes mean a long wait. For me, though, I rarely run into any problems with my day-to-day use. Has anyone else used other great online banks? Feel free to share and discuss in the comments below!
