How do I use ATMs in Spain?

Spain has a developed banking sector, and many of the bank brands you see there will be familiar global names. You won’t have any difficulty finding an ATM in towns and cities – it’s only really if you go well off the beaten track into rural areas, that you’ll find it becomes trickier to locate an ATM to use. If you’re planning on spending time in a more isolated area, then it’s worth carrying extra cash just in case.

To find a convenient ATM, use these ATM locators for local and global banks:

• Santander ATM locator
• BBVA ATM locator
• CaixaBank ATM locator
• Banco de Sabadell ATM locator
• Bankia ATM locator

Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted networks in Spain. However, if you have a Discover card, you’ll find it a bit harder to find a merchant or ATM which will accept your card. AmEx cards are reasonably common and can be used in ATMs run by several local banks.

Bank cards issued in Spain – like most other countries in Europe – have 4 digit PINs. That means that longer 5 or 6 digit PINs issued elsewhere in the world don’t usually work in Spanish ATMs.

Chances are that if you’re using a foreign debit or credit card in Spain, you’ll have to pay a fee to use the ATMs there. Even local account holders are often charged to use an ATM that’s not run by their own bank.

Luckily, most ATMs have the option of carrying out the transaction in English, so you can check the charges before completing the transaction. If you’re unhappy about the charge that is made, simply cancel the withdrawal and find another ATM.

Always choose to pay in the local currency to avoid paying extra fees!