Lawyer
An expert in corporate and international corporate law. He has many years of experience in establishing and reorganizing companies, supporting M&A transactions, as well as providing legal support for opening and running a business in the EU, Asia, and North America.
Opening a bank account for legal entities in Spain
The process of opening a bank account for a company in Spain is regulated by both Spanish law and international regulations aimed at combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
The main regulatory acts are:
- Law No. 10/2010, of 28 April, on the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism (Ley 10/2010, de 28 de abril, de Prevención del Blanqueo de Capitales y de la Financiación del Terrorismo) is a law that establishes rules for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, including requirements for checking customers and sources of funds.
- Law No. 44/2002 on Financial System Reforms (Ley 44/2002, de 22 de noviembre, de Medidas de Reforma del Sistema Financiero) is a law regulating financial institutions, their activities and transparency requirements.
- EU Regulation on Financial Transactions (Regulation (UE) 2015/847 of the European Parliament and of the Council) — the regulation focuses on information accompanying money transfers to ensure financial transparency at the EU level.
Any legal entity must meet transparency standards, have a clearly defined ownership structure, and be able to confirm the legality of its sources of income.
To open a bank account for a legal entity in Spain, the following documents must be provided:
- Company Registration Certificate (Certificado de Registro Mercantil) — confirms the fact of registration of the company in the Spanish Commercial Register.
- Articles of Incorporation (Escritura de Constitución) — statutory documents describing the structure and purpose of the company.
- Tax identification number (CIF/NIF) — required to identify a legal entity with the Spanish tax authorities.
- Documents of directors and shareholders — passports, documents confirming the place of residence, and, if necessary, other supporting documents.
- Documents confirming the company’s economic activities — contracts with counterparties, invoices, business plans, etc.
The process of opening an account for a legal entity in Spain includes several stages:
- Choosing a bank. It is recommended to choose a bank based on its reputation, service conditions and additional services. Leading banks that are known for their stability, high quality of services and support for business clients are Banco Santander, BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria) and CaixaBank.
- Preliminary consultation. Many banks offer preliminary consultations to determine requirements and collect documents.
- Providing documents. The package of documents specified above is submitted to the selected bank.
- Document verification The bank conducts an internal check of the compliance of documents and requests additional information if necessary.
- Signing the contract. After successful verification, an agreement is signed for opening and maintaining an account.
- Account activation. The account becomes active after making the initial deposit (if provided for by the bank’s terms and conditions).
How much does it cost to open a bank account?
To determine the exact cost of opening a bank account with legal support, you need to consider several factors:
- Legal services and support from our company — the price depends on the complexity of the process and can vary from €500 to €2,000.
- Bank fees are one-time payments for opening an account, usually from €50 to €300.
- Additional costs – possible fees for translation/apostille of documents or notarization.
So, in total, the process can cost from €600 to €2,500, depending on the bank chosen and the services of a lawyer.
At the same time, opening a bank account may be accompanied by the following difficulties:
- Difficulty in confirming sources of income, especially for newly established companies.
- Additional requirements for non-residents. Banks often require additional guarantees or documents from companies whose founders are not residents of Spain.
- Language barrier. Some banks communicate only in Spanish.
- Lengthy verification process. Due to strict anti-money laundering regulations, verification can take several days or weeks.
Alternatives to a traditional bank account may include:
- Fintech platforms: services such as Revolut, Wise, N26 offer the ability to open accounts online, multi-currency services, and convenient rates.
- E-wallets: PayPal, Stripe, etc. can be used to receive payments.
- Payment systems for businesses: specialized platforms for international payments, such as Payoneer.
However, it is important to note that some payment systems are not a substitute for a full-fledged bank account, as they may have restrictions on transactions with tax authorities and financial institutions. The choice of alternative depends on the nature of the company’s activities and its financial needs.
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during the day
Compensation for moral, material damage
Protection of honour, dignity, and business reputationContract Development for Business and Legal Entities
Licensing of business activities
Compensation for moral, material damage
Legal services in the field of cryptocurrency and blockchain
REGISTRATION OF COMPANIES AND OPENING OF BANK ACCOUNTS
Sale and purchase of ready-made firms
Grants and attracting investment
Business registration and support in Great Britain
Business registration and support in Switzerland
Business registration and support in the EU
Business Registration and Support in the Gulf Countries (GCC)
Business registration and support in Turkey
Business registration and support in USA
Lawyer for administrative cases
Legal services for medical businesses and doctors
Protection of honour, dignity, and business reputation
Real estate transaction support
Escort of the tender participant
Trial lawyer: support and defense in court
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

