Digital-first banks like N26, Revolut, and BBVA work for day-one expenses, but most Spanish landlords, utility companies (Endesa, Iberdrola, Movistar), the Agencia Tributaria, and Seguridad Social will only accept a Spanish IBAN starting with ES.
A 'real' Spanish bank — meaning a brick-and-mortar branch you can walk into — also makes it dramatically easier to set up direct debits (domiciliaciones), pay your gestor, and resolve fraud disputes when the digital app inevitably locks you out at 11pm.
If you don't yet have your TIE, you'll open a cuenta de no residente. It requires a non-resident certificate (certificado de no residencia) from the Policía Nacional — most banks will request this for you for a €15–€20 fee. Annual maintenance is usually €60–€150.
Once your TIE arrives, switch to a resident account. Resident accounts often waive maintenance fees if you direct-deposit a salary or pension, and they unlock features like the broker, mortgage, and tax-domiciliation services.