One of the very first things you must do in Spain in order to make a successful property purchase is set up a bank account.
As soon as you know you want to buy a property in Spain, you will need to open a bank account there. Not only do you need a Spanish bank account to purchase a property in Spain, but you will also need to be able to set up direct debits to pay for utilities and bills.
Most of the main Spanish banks will cater well for English speakers, and you will sometimes be able to request that your contract comes in English – which will obviously ensure that you understand what you are signing! Make sure that a branch close to your new property has at least one English speaker working there.
A number of different types of account are available in Spain – both for residents and non-residents. Each bank has a range of accounts, such as those specifically for pensioners, or small businesses. 
Most Spanish banks charge a fee for servicing your account and some charge more fees than others for all the extras, like domestic and foreign bank-to-bank transfers. Others offer fee-free accounts with certain conditions attached, and there are some particularly interesting accounts available for retired residents, with free credit and debit cards, cashback on utility bills and free domestic transfers. These accounts are popular as bank charges in Spain can be high, and some banks charge much more than others. 
To open a non-resident account in Spain you will need your passport and some funds. Spanish banks do not generally issue cheque books; instead, payments are usually made by credit and debit cards (or cash of course). You will usually receive an annual fee for a Visa or Mastercard credit card.
All utility bills in Spain must be paid by direct debit, so it’s important to keep your account topped up to cover these inevitable monthly payments – and these will be taken from your account, whether you have money in them or not! Defaulting incurs fines and threats to cut off the water, gas or electricity supply. Some utility bills are paid monthly, others bi-monthly or quarterly.
Nowadays card payments in Spanish shops, restaurants and supermarkets are made with chip and pin. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in most places.
Generally, Spanish banks offer a good standard of service. You may be assigned a personal bank manager and the large banks have good internet banking sites which makes handling your money from the Hungary or Spain much easier. Be prepared for queues at the counter though, especially at certain times of the day. ATMs are to be found everywhere in Spain, but don’t forget that some may charge if they don’t belong to your bank’s group.
