*Researched and regularly updated to reflect current data.*

The pool of Spanish banks willing to lend to non-residents is smaller than most international buyers expect. Of Spain's dozen or so major banks, only about six actively process non-resident mortgage applications. ING, Openbank, and EVO Banco all require Spanish tax residency. Deutsche Bank has largely withdrawn from non-resident lending. Several smaller regional banks don't have the infrastructure to handle foreign income verification.

That leaves roughly six lenders, each with distinct strengths, limitations, and preferences for particular buyer profiles. The bank that offers the best deal for a salaried British buyer earning in GBP may not be the best option for a self-employed American or a German investor purchasing a second property.

This guide profiles each bank individually, compares them side by side, and explains how to match your situation to the right lender.

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At a glance

• Only about 6 of Spain's major banks actively lend to non-residents

• CaixaBank and UCI offer the most competitive headline rates

• UCI is the only major lender with zero cross-selling requirements and 30-year terms

• BBVA only lends to Euro-income earners, ruling out most British and American buyers

• CaixaBank accepts the widest range of income currencies (8 currencies)

• Sabadell's LTV varies significantly depending on your income currency

• Bankinter offers a unique split fixed/variable product

• The right bank depends on your nationality, income currency, employment type, and loan size

CaixaBank (HolaBank)

CaixaBank operates the most digitally advanced non-resident mortgage process in Spain through its HolaBank platform. The online application covers 15 European countries plus the US and Canada, with feasibility responses typically within 48-72 hours. For international buyers who want to manage the process remotely, this digital infrastructure is a significant advantage.

Rates: Fixed rates for non-residents range from approximately 2.10% to 3.30%, depending on profile, LTV, and linked products. CaixaBank doesn't typically offer a standard variable-rate product for non-residents - most applications are steered towards fixed or mixed rates.

LTV: 60-70%, depending on profile and property.

Maximum term: 20 years.

Currency acceptance: EUR, GBP, USD, SEK, DKK, NOK, CHF, and CAD. This is the widest currency acceptance of any major Spanish lender, making CaixaBank particularly accessible for Scandinavian, Swiss, British, American, and Canadian buyers.

Cross-selling: Required for the best rates. Typical requirements include salary domiciliation (or a regular transfer), home insurance, and potentially other products. The gap between bonified and non-bonified rates can be 0.5-1.0 percentage points.

Strengths: Digital application process that works from abroad. Widest currency acceptance. Competitive headline rates. Established FATCA compliance for US buyers. Feasibility response speed.

Limitations: Cross-selling required for best rates. Maximum 20-year term. Physical branch visit may still be needed for certain steps depending on your country.

Best for: British, American, Scandinavian, and Canadian buyers who want a digitally-managed process. Buyers who value currency flexibility and are willing to take on linked products for better rates.

UCI (Union de Creditos Inmobiliarios)

UCI is a joint venture between Santander and BNP Paribas that specialises in mortgage lending, with a particular focus on non-resident and international buyers. Unlike the other banks on this list, UCI operates exclusively through mortgage brokers rather than direct branches. You won't find a UCI branch to walk into - applications are submitted by your broker on your behalf.

UCI's standout feature is its zero cross-selling model. The rate you're quoted is the rate you pay, with no requirement to domicile salary, take insurance products, or open additional accounts. This transparency makes it easy to compare UCI's true cost against other banks' bonified rates.

Rates: Fixed rates from 2.90% to 3.35% for terms of 10-30 years. Variable rates structured as 2.75% fixed for the first year, then Euribor + 2.09% thereafter. The variable spread is higher than some competitors, reflecting the absence of cross-selling subsidies.

LTV: Up to 70%.

Maximum term: 30 years - the longest available for non-residents at any major Spanish lender. This significantly reduces monthly payments compared to the 20-year maximum at most other banks. On a 350,000 euro mortgage, extending from 20 to 30 years reduces the monthly payment by roughly 480 euros (at 3.3%).

Currency acceptance: Broad - UCI works with a wide range of nationalities and income currencies through its broker network.

Cross-selling: None. No salary domiciliation, no mandatory insurance, no bank account requirement. The quoted rate is the actual rate.

Strengths: Zero cross-selling. 30-year terms. Flexible on nationality and income type. Transparent pricing. Strong compliance infrastructure for US buyers (FATCA).

Limitations: Broker-only model (no direct application). Variable rate spread is higher than some competitors. No branch network for in-person queries.

Best for: Buyers who want clean, transparent terms without product bundling. Buyers who benefit from 30-year terms to reduce monthly payments. Buyers working with a mortgage broker (which includes Zerodown clients).

Banco Santander (Hipoteca Mundo)

Santander's non-resident product - "Hipoteca Mundo para No Residentes" - is the most transparently structured in the market. Unlike banks that negotiate rates individually without published guidelines, Santander publishes clear rate tiers with defined bonification steps, making it easier to understand what you'll pay and what's required to get the best rate.

Rates: Fixed rates from 3.19% (with maximum bonifications) to 3.79% (without). Variable rates from Euribor + 1.05% (bonified) to Euribor + 2.47% for smaller loans without cross-selling. The bonification structure offers up to 0.60 percentage points of rate reduction.

LTV: Up to 70%.

Maximum term: 20 years.

Currency acceptance: Multi-currency, with the application process available in English, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Polish. Santander's international division has experience across European and American buyer profiles.

Cross-selling: Required for best rates. Bonifications come from income domiciliation (or regular transfer), card usage, investment products (funds/pension plans), and energy efficiency certification on the property. Each element contributes a defined amount to the rate reduction.

Strengths: Transparent pricing structure. Good LTV (70%). Multi-language support. Strong international division. Potential for individually negotiated terms on loans above 500,000 euros.

Limitations: Best rates require significant cross-selling commitment. Without bonifications, the base rate (3.79% fixed) is above CaixaBank and UCI. Maximum 20-year term.

Best for: Buyers who value pricing transparency and are comfortable committing to linked products. Buyers with larger loans who can negotiate individual terms. Buyers who want a major international bank with a strong Spanish presence.

BBVA

BBVA is Spain's second-largest bank and handles non-resident mortgage applications on a case-by-case basis without a branded non-resident product. This means there's less predictability about what terms you'll receive - it depends on the branch, the profile, and the bank's commercial appetite at the time.

The critical restriction that sets BBVA apart from every other lender on this list: BBVA only lends to Euro-income earners. If your salary is paid in GBP, USD, SEK, or any other non-EUR currency, BBVA will not process your application. This effectively excludes the majority of British and American buyers.

Rates: Estimated non-resident fixed rates of 3.20-4.20%, variable approximately Euribor + 1.0-1.5%. These are estimates based on broker reports and market data rather than published rate cards.

LTV: Approximately 60%.

Maximum term: 20 years.

Currency acceptance: EUR only.

Cross-selling: Required for best rates. Bonifications of up to 1.0 percentage point are available through salary domiciliation, home insurance, and payment protection insurance.

Strengths: Competitive rates when they choose to lend. Massive branch network across Spain. Strong in urban markets (Madrid, Barcelona).

Limitations: EUR-income restriction excludes most international buyers. Case-by-case approach makes outcomes unpredictable. Lower LTV than competitors (60%). No branded non-resident product.

Best for: EU buyers with Euro-denominated income who live in or near Spain. Expats already banking with BBVA. Buyers who specifically want BBVA's branch network and relationship banking.

Banco Sabadell

Sabadell is widely regarded as one of the most broker-friendly major banks in Spain. They work well with intermediaries, respond reasonably quickly, and provide English, French, and German language support for international clients.

One important variable: Sabadell adjusts its maximum LTV based on the borrower's income currency. EUR, USD, and GBP-income clients can access up to 70% LTV. Buyers earning in weaker or less commonly traded currencies may be limited to 50% LTV - a significant difference that adds 100,000 euros in deposit requirements on a 500,000 euro property.

Rates: Estimated non-resident fixed rates of 3.25-4.25%, variable Euribor + 1.0-2.0%. Individually negotiated.

LTV: 50-70%, depending on income currency.

Maximum term: 20 years.

Currency acceptance: Broad, but LTV varies by currency. EUR, USD, and GBP receive the best terms.

Cross-selling: Required for best rates. Standard linked products (insurance, salary domiciliation).

FATCA compliance: Sabadell has a dedicated FATCA compliance page and established reporting procedures, making it one of the banks that accepts US buyers.

Acquisition note: Sabadell's acquisition by BBVA has been ongoing. If completed, this could affect product availability, rate structures, or non-resident lending appetite. For now, Sabadell continues operating independently with its own product range.

Strengths: Broker-friendly. Multi-language support. Flexible on nationality. FATCA-compliant for US buyers. Up to 70% LTV for major currencies.

Limitations: LTV drops sharply for weaker currencies. Rates at the higher end of the market. Acquisition uncertainty. Individually negotiated (less predictable than Santander's published tiers).

Best for: Buyers working through a broker who can negotiate terms. EUR, GBP, or USD-income earners. US buyers who need FATCA-compliant alternatives to CaixaBank.

Bankinter

Bankinter explicitly markets to foreign non-residents with English-language materials and a dedicated international banking section. Their distinguishing product feature is the "Dual Mortgage" - a structure that splits your loan into a fixed-rate portion and a variable-rate portion running simultaneously.

This split approach lets you hedge your position: if rates fall, your variable portion benefits; if rates rise, your fixed portion provides a buffer. The split is typically negotiable (e.g., 60% fixed / 40% variable, or 50/50).

Rates: Not published for non-residents. Based on Bankinter's resident fixed rate of 2.85% (bonified) and the typical non-resident premium, estimated non-resident fixed rates are approximately 3.50-4.50%, variable Euribor + 1.5-2.5%.

LTV: 60%.

Maximum term: 25 years.

Currency acceptance: Accepts international buyers and explicitly markets to non-residents. FATCA-compliant for US buyers.

Cross-selling: Required for best rates. Bankinter offers up to 1.30 percentage points in bonifications through linked products, which is the largest bonification range of any bank on this list. However, this also means the gap between bonified and non-bonified rates is the widest.

Strengths: Unique dual fixed/variable product. Explicit non-resident focus. FATCA-compliant. 25-year terms (longer than most competitors' 20-year cap). Large bonification potential.

Limitations: Lower LTV (60%). Rates at the higher end without bonifications. Published rate data limited. Smaller branch network than the Big Four.

Best for: Buyers who want to split between fixed and variable rather than choosing one. Buyers willing to take on significant cross-selling for meaningful rate reductions. US buyers seeking FATCA-compliant alternatives.

Full comparison table

How to choose the right bank

The comparison table narrows the field, but the final choice comes down to matching your specific profile to the bank most likely to offer the best terms.

Start with currency. If you earn in EUR, all six banks are available. If you earn in GBP or USD, remove BBVA. If you earn in a less common currency, check Sabadell's LTV for your currency before assuming 70%.

Consider your LTV priority. If minimising your deposit is critical, UCI and Santander at 70% LTV give you the most leverage. If you're comfortable with 60% LTV, the full field is open and you may get a better rate in exchange for the larger deposit.

Weigh cross-selling willingness. If you don't want to be locked into linked products, UCI is the clear choice. If you're willing to domicile salary and take insurance for a lower rate, CaixaBank and Santander offer the best bonified terms.

Factor in term length. If monthly payment size is a priority and you'd benefit from a 25-30 year term, UCI (30 years) and Bankinter (25 years) are the only options above the standard 20-year cap.

Think about process preference. If you want to manage everything digitally from abroad, CaixaBank's HolaBank platform is the strongest option. If you're working with a broker (which includes Zerodown clients), UCI and Sabadell are both broker-friendly.

US buyers specifically: CaixaBank, Santander, Sabadell, UCI, and Bankinter all accept Americans. CaixaBank and UCI tend to have the smoothest FATCA processes. BBVA is not an option.

This is precisely where a broker adds the most value. A broker who works across all these banks can match your profile to the lender most likely to offer the best combination of rate, LTV, and terms - rather than you approaching banks individually and hoping for the best.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply to multiple banks simultaneously?
You can, but each application may involve a credit check and valuation, creating costs and credit footprint. A better approach is to work with a broker who pre-screens your profile and targets the 1-2 banks most likely to approve on the best terms.

Do I have to bank with the mortgage lender?
Not at UCI (zero cross-selling). At other banks, you'll typically need to open a current account as part of the mortgage arrangement, and may need to set up salary domiciliation or regular transfers to qualify for bonified rates.

Can I switch banks after getting a mortgage?
Yes. Subrogacion (transferring your mortgage to a different bank) is possible and was made easier by the 2019 mortgage law. The new bank covers most of the costs. This can be worthwhile if rates improve or your circumstances change.

What if a bank declines my application?
A decline from one bank doesn't mean others will decline. Banks have different risk appetites, currency preferences, and criteria. A broker can redirect your application to a more suitable lender without starting from scratch.

Does the bank's branch location matter?
For the mortgage application itself, not necessarily - most processing happens centrally. For ongoing account management, having a branch accessible when you visit Spain can be convenient but isn't essential.

Next steps

The fastest way to find out which bank is the best fit for your profile is to run a free pre-check with us. We assess your income, nationality, employment type, and financial situation against current bank criteria and identify the lender most likely to offer your best terms.

Start your free pre-check →

For current rates across all banks, see our rate comparison. For the full mortgage process, see our complete non-resident mortgage guide.

Questions? WhatsApp us or get in touch.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Zerodown is a mortgage introducer, not a lender or financial advisor. Rates, terms, and bank policies are indicative and subject to change. Individual mortgage offers depend on your specific circumstances and the bank's assessment.