I just moved to Spain recently. Yesterday, my landlady returned my security deposit and the first month’s rent in cash—a thick wad of it. I wanted to deposit it into the bank right away. But when I got to the CaixaBank downstairs, I realized I had forgotten my bank card! I totally froze… For a moment, I thought I’d have to take all that cash back home. Then I discovered you can actually make cardless deposits directly at the ATM, and after figuring it out, it’s quite convenient. I’m sharing the process here for anyone who might be as forgetful as me, or for newcomers who haven’t received their physical card yet. Hope this helps!
Preparations for a Cardless Deposit
Although it’s called ‘cardless,’ it doesn’t mean you need nothing. You’ll need two things: the recipient’s IBAN and your mobile phone. The IBAN is a long string of characters starting with ‘ES’ that uniquely identifies an account. Make sure to have it ready beforehand and double-check it, because if you type it wrong, the money will go to someone else’s account! Additionally, some banks require you to receive a verification code on your phone for cardless services, so keep your phone with you.
Detailed ATM Operation Steps
he ATM interfaces might vary slightly between different banks, but the overall process is very similar. I’ll use CaixaBank, one of the most common ones, as an example:
- On the ATM’s home screen, look for an option called ‘Operar sin tarjeta’ (Operate without card) or something similar, and select it.
- Next, choose ‘Ingresar dinero’ (Deposit money) or ‘Ingreso en efectivo’ (Cash deposit).
- The screen will then prompt you to enter the recipient’s IBAN. Carefully type in the number you prepared and press confirm.
- The ATM will ask for the depositor’s information, such as your name and phone number. Just follow the prompts. Some may also allow you to add a deposit reference, like ‘Alquiler Mayo’ (May Rent), to help the recipient identify the payment.
- After confirming all the details are correct, the cash deposit slot will open. Straighten your banknotes and insert them all at once. The machine will count the money automatically and display the total amount and the number of bills for each denomination on the screen. Double-check the amount. If it’s correct, confirm the transaction. The ATM will then process the deposit and print a receipt. Be sure to keep this receipt! It’s your only proof of deposit.
Comparison of Cardless Deposit Features at Major Banks
Not all banks or ATMs support this feature. Based on my own and my friends’ experiences, I’ve put together a simple table for your reference, which you can supplement with this BBVA transfer tutorial. However, it’s always best to check the bank’s official website or the ATM itself for the most accurate information.
| Bank | Cardless Deposit Support | Fees | Notes |
|---|
| CaixaBank | Supported | Usually free | Most new machines support it; very user-friendly. |
| BBVA | Supported | Usually free | Select ‘Acceder sin tarjeta / Acceso para no clientes’ (Access without card / Access for non-clients) at the ATM. |
| Santander | Partially supported | Possible fees | Older machines may not have this feature, and fees may apply for non-customers. |
| ING | Not supported | N/A | ING’s model is branchless/cashless; they generally don’t support cash deposits at counters or ATMs. |
This feature is incredibly useful, especially for newcomers like international students and new immigrants who might not have their card handy or haven’t received it yet. If you have experience with cardless deposits at other banks, please feel free to share in the comments below to help us complete this guide, just like this one on changing your address with CaixaBank! Hope you’re never as forgetful as I am, haha..
