Banco en España: documentos y frases útiles (A2)

Mini artículo: documentos que suelen pedir en el banco a recién llegados y expresiones útiles en ventanilla.

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Dannis

2 min reading time

Vocabulary

Keywords:

abrir una cuenta domiciliar pagos nómina NIE volante de empadronamiento tarjeta de débito

En el banco, para abrir una cuenta de residente, ¿qué documentos suelen pedir?

Tip: some banks may also ask for proof of income if it is a “cuenta nómina”. Reference: bank requirements and phrases.

Correct: 0/8

Hints for this Quiz

Think: identity + address are the basics for opening an account.

Tip: some banks may also ask for proof of income if it is a “cuenta nómina”. Reference: bank requirements and phrases.

The bank usually asks for an identity document (NIE/TIE or passport) and proof of address (volante de empadronamiento). The other options don’t meet the standard requirements.

Remember the polite form: how do you say “I would like to” in Spanish?

At the counter, a polite register is preferred. Model phrase: “Hola, quisiera abrir una cuenta bancaria.”

A polite request in Spanish (especially in official institutions) is often expressed with the conditional form: quisiera. The other options sound too direct or are grammatically incorrect.

Hint: número vs tarjeta (number vs card).

The NIE is the number; the physical card is the TIE.

The NIE is a number (an identifier), not a plastic card. The plastic card with a photo is the TIE. They are often confused.

It’s a document about your address, not about travel or money.

Difference: volante (informational, for basic procedures) vs certificado (more official).

The volante de empadronamiento is a certificate of registration at your address. It is needed for basic procedures and to prove your address. It does not give the right to travel without a visa and does not extend your residence permit.

This is about setting up automatic payment of regular bills.

For regular payments, the expression used is “domiciliar pagos”.

Domiciliar pagos means “set up automatic debits” (automatic payments). Empadronar is about registering at the town hall; cobrar/retirar mean to receive/withdraw money, but not to set up automatic debits.

It’s what you receive for your work.

Nómina: payslip/salary; it is usually paid into a local account.

Nómina is your “payslip/salary”, which usually goes into your Spanish bank account.

Formal and polite is the key to success in Spain.

In the bank you normally use formal address (usted) and polite language.

In a bank, a polite, formal style and the use of usted are appropriate: “Disculpe, ¿me puede…?”. The other options are too colloquial or rude.

Look for the word that refers to a bank card.

Model phrase for opening an account and receiving your card.

Tarjeta de débito is the bank card you use to pay and withdraw cash. Volante is a certificate from the town hall; cita previa and resguardo refer to an appointment/receipt, not to payment.