Which Spanish banks lend to non-residents? The 31 most important lenders
The Spanish mortgage market has far more lenders than the three household names. Here are the 31 most important — from the big banks to the regional cooperatives — with what matters when financing a non-resident purchase.
Which lenders are strongest for a mortgage in Spain for foreigners?
For a mortgage in Spain for foreigners, CaixaBank (HolaBank) and the specialist UCI are the strongest lenders, followed by Santander, Sabadell, Bankinter, Abanca and Deutsche Bank España. Non-residents typically get up to 70 % of the lower of purchase price and tasación. Which lender fits depends on your profile, the property and the region.
It is not the brand that decides, but the bank that fits
Which lender suits your plan depends on credit standing, equity, property type and region, not on the best-known name. The most active for non-residents are CaixaBank, UCI, Santander, Sabadell, Bankinter, Abanca and Deutsche Bank España.
- CaixaBank and UCI lead, plus Santander, Sabadell, Bankinter: Above all CaixaBank (HolaBank) and the specialist UCI, plus Santander, Sabadell, Bankinter, Abanca and Deutsche Bank España. Which one fits depends on your profile, the property and the region. The regions.
- How much do they lend? For non-residents typically up to around 70% loan-to-value of the lower of purchase price and Tasación; the rest plus purchase costs is the buyer's equity. Costs of buying in Spain.
- Did BBVA take over Banco Sabadell? No — the takeover failed in October 2025. BBVA and Banco Sabadell are two independent banks.
- Which groups of Spanish banks lend to non-residents? A mortgage in Spain for foreigners is offered above all by CaixaBank (HolaBank), UCI, Santander, Sabadell, Bankinter, Abanca and Deutsche Bank España; Perini compares 31 Spanish banks and approaches 15–20 suitable lenders per case.
The Spanish houses fall into groups: the large branch banks and former cajas (CaixaBank with its HolaBank non-resident programme, Banco Santander, BBVA, Banco Sabadell, Bankinter, Unicaja, Abanca), cooperative institutions (Grupo Cajamar, the Cajas Rurales), direct and neobanks (ING with the “Hipoteca Naranja”, Openbank, MyInvestor) and foreign or specialised lenders (Deutsche Bank España with German-language service, UCI as the cross-border mortgage specialist).
The most active for non-residents are CaixaBank, UCI, Santander, Sabadell, Bankinter, Abanca and Deutsche Bank España. Non-residents are usually financed at a lower loan-to-value than residents.
Which one offers the best terms depends on credit profile, property, equity and region — not on the best-known name, but on a direct comparison after the credit review.
As independent brokers we compare and negotiate with the right banks for you. Which lender suits your plan depends on credit standing, equity, property type and region — not on the best-known name. Spanish banks typically finance non-residents up to 70 % of the lower of purchase price and tasación; the actual rate ranges are on mortgage rates Spain.
Which institution writes your case is part of the mandate and is not listed here. This is a market overview, not a commitment from any particular bank.
The five big lenders
The big banks have established non-resident programmes, broad product ranges and usually a German- or English-speaking international desk.
Banco Santander — largest bank in Spain; own non-resident programme, international desk. BBVA — one of the largest lenders; its bid for Banco Sabadell failed in October 2025, both remain independent. CaixaBank — largest domestic retail bank (absorbed Bankia in 2021); runs “HolaBank” for foreign buyers. Banco Sabadell — independent after rejecting BBVA's bid; active non-resident desk. Bankinter — strong for non-residents; currently integrating its digital arm EVO Banco.
Further nationwide lenders
The consolidation of the Spanish savings banks (cajas) produced strong nationwide retail banks — often more conservative on loan-to-value, but with keen fixed rates for established profiles.
Unicaja Banco — fifth-largest domestic lender, from the 2021 merger with Liberbank. Ibercaja Banco — Aragón-based retail bank, a former caja. Abanca — Galician bank, active for non-residents; acquired Targobank España. Kutxabank — Basque group, owner of the Cajasur brand. Cajasur — Andalusian retail brand of Kutxabank. Grupo Cooperativo Cajamar (BCC) — Spain's largest cooperative banking group. Banca March — private bank with Balearic roots, strong in the premium and non-resident segment. Laboral Kutxa — Basque cooperative bank.
Digital lenders
Direct banks score with lean processes and sometimes very good online terms — for non-residents the reachability of an international desk is what counts.
ING España — leading direct bank, expat-friendly (“Hipoteca Naranja”). Openbank — digital bank of the Santander group. imagin — digital brand of CaixaBank (lending booked via CaixaBank). Pibank — digital bank of Banco Pichincha España. MyInvestor — neobank (Andbank, AXA, El Corte Inglés Seguros); non-resident mortgages too. EVO Banco — digital brand, being integrated into Bankinter.
International lenders and specialists
Often the decisive group for non-residents: lenders with German-/English-speaking service, cross-border experience or a mortgage focus.
- Deutsche Bank España — German-language service, active for non-residents. UCI (Unión de Créditos Inmobiliarios) — mortgage specialist (Santander/BNP Paribas joint venture), strong cross-border. Targobank España — sold by Crédit Mutuel to Abanca; brand being merged into Abanca. Banco Mediolanum — advisory-led bank of the Italian Mediolanum group. Andbank España — private bank (Andorra) for high-net-worth and non-resident clients. Triodos Bank España — ethical/sustainable bank, residential mortgages too.
- Professional-sector and regional lenders: Regional cooperative and professional banks often finance particularly solid profiles at attractive fixed rates — regionally tied, but a real argument in a comparison.
- Caja de Ingenieros (Caixa d'Enginyers) — cooperative credit bank for the professions. Arquia Banca — professional bank (originally architects). Banco Caminos — bank of the engineering and professional sector (incl. Bancofar). Grupo Caja Rural / Banco Cooperativo Español — central bank of the rural cooperatives.
- Caja Rural de Navarra · Caja Rural de Granada · Caja Rural del Sur · Caja Rural de Asturias — regional cooperative banks.
- Globalcaja (Castilla-La Mancha) · Eurocaja Rural (Toledo) · Bantierra (Aragón) · Cajaviva Caja Rural (Burgos) · Caixa Popular (Valencia) — further regional lenders.
- Strongest for non-residents: CaixaBank (HolaBank) and UCI as the purpose-built specialists, plus Banco Santander, Banco Sabadell, Bankinter, Abanca and Deutsche Bank España as reliable cross-border lenders. Which one offers the best terms in your case, we check in a direct comparison after the credit review.
Frequently asked questions
Which Spanish banks lend to non-residents?
The most active non-resident programmes are run by CaixaBank (HolaBank), Banco Santander, BBVA, Banco Sabadell, Bankinter, Abanca, Deutsche Bank España and the mortgage specialist UCI. Which one offers the best terms in your case depends on your credit profile, the property and the region, and is checked in a direct comparison.
How many Spanish banks does Perini compare?
Through independent access more than 30 Spanish lenders can be compared — from the big banks and the former cajas to cooperative, direct and foreign banks. Different lenders are strong for different profiles (credit standing, equity, property type, region).
Which is the largest Spanish bank?
By total assets Banco Santander is the largest bank in Spain, followed by CaixaBank, BBVA, Banco Sabadell and Bankinter. Size alone does not decide who finances a non-resident case best — the smaller specialists often have friendlier terms for cross-border buyers.
Did BBVA take over Banco Sabadell?
No. The takeover failed in October 2025 — too few Sabadell shareholders accepted the offer. BBVA and Banco Sabadell are two separate, independent banks.
Do Spanish banks lend to foreigners without Spanish income?
Yes. For non-residents Spanish banks typically finance up to 70 % of the lower of purchase price and tasación (bank valuation); the buyer contributes the rest plus the purchase costs as equity. Foreign income is accepted but must be fully and traceably documented.
Which bank is cheapest?
There is no blanket answer — the cheapest bank is the one whose programme fits your profile. The current rate ranges (fixed, variable, mixed) are on mortgage rates Spain, with source and date checked.
Related pages
Banks in Spain and Portugal compared: who lends to non-residents, and how much?
A short analysis: 31 banks in Spain, 14 in Portugal. Who lends to non-residents, 70 % or 80 % loan-to-value, how much equity you need – 2026 status.
International mortgage: Spanish bank or German bank — which is better?
International mortgage for your Spanish property: Spanish or German bank? Interest rates, processing time, equity, language barrier — a direct comparison.
Wealth tax in Spain for non-residents: which allowances and rates apply?
Wealth tax in Spain 2026 for non-residents: Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza) up to €3m, Andalusia effectively 0% — allowances, rates and the mortgage effect.
Mortgage instead of cash: why finance in Spain if you could pay outright?
Mortgage instead of cash in Spain: why it pays even without a need for liquidity — wealth-tax deduction, liquidity, leverage, inflation hedge. 5 arguments.
House prices in Spain: what do buyers actually pay at the notary?
House prices Spain: the notaries publish the prices recorded in the deeds, down to postcode level — in Q1 2026, 29 % below portal asking prices.
Mortgage broker in Spain for partners: how does the partnership work?
Mortgage broker in Spain for partners: you have the contact, the financing is missing. For estate agents, developers, insurance brokers and advisers.
Licence under § 34i GewO: how can you check us before you recommend us?
Licence under § 34i GewO, register D-W-132-ZUCB-95 — verify every entry yourself with the authorities before you recommend Perini to a client.
Content by Siegfried Perini — local brand representative since 2019, active in real estate since 1992, entered in the German intermediary register (§ 11a GewO) as a person directly involved in brokerage and advice. Point of contact for German-speaking buyers in Spain and Portugal. Brokerage by Olga Nikushkina, mortgage credit intermediary under § 34i German Trade Regulation (GewO); in Portugal through a locally licensed intermediary.