Business · Companies · 23 hrs ago
Spanish banks can charge up to €276 a year for unused accounts
Spanish banks can charge up to €276 a year for a current account and debit card when a customer does not meet the bank’s conditions for avoiding fees.
The amount is the highest among 11 banks compared, with CaixaBank and Cajamar charging the most.
Many traditional banks waive fees if customers deposit their salary, use their cards or buy other products from the bank.
Other banks in the comparison charge less: Bankinter’s maximum is €75 a year, while ING’s is €36.
Changing or complex conditions can catch customers out, especially if they stop using an account or miss a notice that its terms have changed.
The charges matter because current accounts and debit cards are basic services used for everyday payments and income.
Spanish banks can charge up to €276 a year for a current account and debit card if a customer does not meet the bank’s conditions for avoiding fees.
CaixaBank and Cajamar have the highest stated annual charges, while ING has the lowest among the banks listed.
Many traditional banks waive fees for customers who receive their salary into the account, use their card or buy other products.
Banks say account fees help cover the cost of maintaining accounts and that most customers meet the conditions to avoid them.
Consumer group OCU says conditions for avoiding fees have become more complex, and some customers may find out only after being charged.
- Who
- Spanish banks, including CaixaBank and Cajamar, charge fees to some account holders.
- What
- Banks can charge up to €276 a year for a current account and debit card when customers do not meet fee-waiver conditions.
- When
- The article was published on 1 November 2026.
- Where
- Spain.
- Why
- Banks say maintaining accounts has a cost and they seek to offset it with customer-generated income; fees can be waived if customers meet specified conditions.
Spanish banks
OCU
Reason for fees
Spanish banks
Banks say maintaining an account has a cost and they try to offset it with income generated by the customer.
OCU
OCU says a current account and debit card are basic banking services needed for everyday income and payments.
Fee-waiver conditions
Spanish banks
Banks waive fees for customers who meet requirements such as paying in a salary, using a card or taking other products.
OCU
OCU says the conditions for avoiding fees are increasingly complex and customers may discover they have lost free banking only when charged.
Iratxe opened an online account that did not charge her fees.
The account’s conditions changed, and Iratxe says the bank began charging fees after she missed an email about the changes.
El País published its report on annual charges for customers who do not meet banks’ fee-waiver conditions.
- Highest annual charge
- €276 at CaixaBank and Cajamar
- Next-highest stated charge
- €240 at Santander and Sabadell
- BBVA maximum annual charge
- €195
- Lowest annual charge listed
- €36 at ING
- Number of banks analysed
- 11
What people are saying
Aunque las entidades tienen libertad para fijar sus comisiones, eso no significa que cualquier importe sea razonable. Mantener una cuenta corriente y disponer de una tarjeta de débito son servicios bancarios básicos, necesarios para gestionar los ingresos y pagos habituales.
Me voy a cambiar de banco porque me han empezado a cobrar comisiones. Antes no me cobraban nada porque era una cuenta online, pero me han cambiado las condiciones. Me enviaron un correo, pero no lo leí. Y ahora o tienes ciertos requisitos de ingresos, gastos y domiciliaciones o te cobran.