Alicante, Spain
Expat Advice: Financial Issues in Alicante, Spain
What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?
Alicante
Which banks do you use? If you have a local account, which bank do you use? How do you like it? Do you also have an account in your home country? Which bank? Do they charge for ATM withdrawals? Do they charge a lot for international wire transfers? How has it been working with them from abroad? Do you use a special international wire transfer service? Do you use an online bank? If so, tell us about them.
No local Bank
Traveling MailboxConnect
Traveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.
Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
Traveling MailboxTraveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.
Connect
Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
What advice would you offer others about banking as an expat in your country? What do you wish you had known about banking when you first arrived?
Develop a relationship with your bank manager with respect. Ask him for help. If possible speak the language to him if you can't bring a friend who can.
What sort of challenges or frustrations have you encountered as an investor living overseas? Please describe.
Patience but with respect to the bank manager I find that everything can be solved.
What advice was particularly helpful to you in managing your finances? What advice would you give? Any other thoughts?
Learn the 3 visit rule of southern europe. It takes at least three visits to achieve even the smallest thing. Showing frustration will add a visit and more cost.
Do you do your own taxes, use a local firm, an expat-oriented firm or does your employer handle this for you (i.e. via an corporate tax firm)?
A local english lawywer whom has lived in Spain almost 30 years does taxes. Find a lawyer or financial advisor only through word of month. Do not use advertisements in the local english language papers.
