Basic Payment Account in Spain (2026): EUR 3 Cap and Free Account
Jules
Editor
Updated: October 2026 | Found helpful by 7 others
Every Spanish bank that offers payment accounts must offer a cuenta de pago basica to people legally resident in the EU, including those with no fixed address, asylum seekers and people who cannot be expelled. The fee is capped at EUR 3 a month, covering up to 120 euro payments a year by direct debit or transfer, and a refusal must come in writing within 10 working days. It is free for vulnerable households: in 2026, a single person qualifies with gross yearly income up to EUR 21,600, as of October 2026.
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What Does the Law Guarantee?
| Topic | Rule | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Who has the right | Every Spanish credit institution that offers payment accounts must offer a basic payment account (cuenta de pago basica) to people legally resident in the EU (including those with no fixed address), asylum seekers and people without a residence permit who cannot be expelled. | Real Decreto-ley 19/2017 |
| If the bank refuses | A refusal must be notified in writing, free of charge, with the specific reasons, within 10 working days of the complete application. | Real Decreto-ley 19/2017 |
| Maximum fee | One combined fee of at most EUR 3 a month. It covers opening, using and closing the account, cash deposits and withdrawals, debit or prepaid card payments, and up to 120 euro payments a year within the EU by direct debit or transfer. | Orden ECE/228/2019, art. 4 |
| When it is free | The account is free for people in a situation of special vulnerability: gross yearly household income at or below 3, 3.5 or 4 times the 12-payment IPREM, depending on the household (table below), plus the other conditions in article 3. | Real Decreto 164/2019, art. 3 |
| How long it stays free | Free status lasts two years and is extended for further two-year periods while you still qualify; the bank must tell you at least 15 days before each two-year period ends. | Real Decreto 164/2019 |
Who Gets It Free in 2026?
Real Decreto 164/2019 sets the ceilings as multiples of the 12-payment IPREM, which is EUR 7,200 a year in 2026. Gross yearly income of the whole household counts, and article 3 adds further conditions, so ask the bank for the vulnerability form.
| Household | IPREM multiple | Gross income ceiling a year |
|---|---|---|
| Person not in a family unit | 3x | EUR 21,600 |
| Family unit of fewer than 4 members | 3.5x | EUR 25,200 |
| Family unit of 4 or more members, or a large family (familia numerosa) | 4x | EUR 28,800 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cuenta de pago basica in Spain?
A basic payment account that every Spanish credit institution offering payment accounts must provide to people legally resident in the EU, asylum seekers and people who cannot be expelled. It costs at most EUR 3 a month (October 2026).
Who gets the basic payment account free?
People in special vulnerability under Real Decreto 164/2019: for example a single person with gross yearly income up to 3 times the 12-payment IPREM, which is EUR 21,600 in 2026. The free status lasts two years and renews while you still qualify.
What does the EUR 3 a month cover?
Opening, using and closing the account, cash deposits and withdrawals, debit or prepaid card payments, and up to 120 euro payments a year within the EU by direct debit or transfer (Orden ECE/228/2019, art. 4).
Can a Spanish bank refuse to open a basic account?
Only on the grounds the law sets, and the refusal must be in writing, free, with the specific reasons, within 10 working days of your complete application (Real Decreto-ley 19/2017).
Sources
- BOE: Real Decreto-ley 19/2017 (basic payment accounts, account switching) (accessed 2026-10-25)
- BOE: Orden ECE/228/2019 (basic account fee cap, switching procedure) (accessed 2026-10-25)
- BOE: Real Decreto 164/2019 (free basic accounts for vulnerable households) (accessed 2026-10-25)
Change log
Updated
- Published: the Spanish basic payment account, the EUR 3 cap and the free-account income ceilings for 2026