Although the system governing the banks in Spain is relatively conservative, it's still imperative to be current on the latest news and trends within the industry. Because of the global nature of the banking system, banks in Spain are also subject to changes in international economic conditions. Therefore, a global perspective is a necessity when looking at the news and trends in commercial banks in Spain. If one can stay ahead of the trends in the industry, you can allocate your assets accordingly and save you or your company money.

To locate this information on Spain banks there are several avenues available. They include information portals, the banks themselves and industry newsletters. If there are any major changes in banking policy, a bank will issue a statement that you can usually locate on their website. The same goes for the Central Bank of Spain, which controls monetary policy within the country. However, before you begin the search there are a few things to consider:

1. Utilize the Spain bank portals available on the Internet to obtain industry news.

2. Review the industry publications issued regarding banking in Spain.

3. Subscribe to industry newsletters for the latest banks in Spain news and trends.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use the industry news portals to stay current on Spain banking trends

With all of the information available on the Internet, it is much easier to use websites that conduct this search for information for you. Research portals comb many websites and post relevant information about the Spanish banking industry in one place. There are also websites that will compile all of the latest information in an effort to spot trends in the industry. This is a great option especially if you face a time and resource limitation.

I recommend: Examine the Spanish bank articles at the EIN News. Purchase the Spanish banking research reports available at Accenture.

Employ the resources at the banks of Spain to find trends in the industry

When researching an international bank in Spain, it's best to go directly to the source, the banks. The central bank issues statements and policy directives on a regular basis and can be an invaluable source when identifying industry trends. The largest bank in Spain is the Santander and most consider it a bellwether institution that can lead the trend for the entire sector.

I recommend: Evaluate the banking reports available at the Banco de España. Use the resources available at the Santander Bank to help identify trends in the industry.

Use newsletters for the current information on local and global banks in Spain

Banking newsletters are another available outlet for banking news. These act much in the same ways as portals but they add their own content. This makes researching news and trends much easier.

I recommend: Subscribe to the Expat Focus newsletter. For a look at the private banking industry, you can register to receive the Baker and McKenzie newsletter.

The wonderful world of Spanish banking is sometimes extremely cryptic to the "estranjero" as Spaniards refer to overseas customers. Obviously, dealing with a Spain bank depends largely on your solid networking, knowledge of the language and cultural awareness. However, some applicable rules will help you navigate the banking systems of the Iberian Peninsula: commercial banking Spain.

Whether it's buying property in "Old Europe" or arranging for emigration, there will be details you'll have to work out with Spanish banks, and you'll discover that things often work differently than you may be used to.

Overseas customers look for commercial banks in Spain:

1. When buying a property in Spain and setting up a mortgage.
2. When preparing to emigrate to Spain.
3. As a way of hedging currency or diversifying accounts in Spain banks.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Communicate with Spain banks

Clarify your intent with letters of communication to the larger banks of Spain. These 'federal' institutions will be more accustomed to dealing with overseas customers banking in Spain than, say, the single branch of 'Tres Torros' in Salamanca. Make your goals known to the banking institutions that have the staff and tools to accommodate your transactions.

I recommend: As one of the largest commercial banks in Spain, the central Banco de Espana or "Bank of Spain" should be able to help overseas customers establish themselves in pretty much any region. Santander Central Hispanico is rated among the top Spain banks.

Match your bank to your region of interest

This step is super-important, and to understand why, you need to know about the history of the Spanish provinces. Over centuries of political turmoil, the various 'comunidades' of Spain have proudly held to their own cultural identities and even their own provincial languages, making Spain one of the loosest confederations in the Western world. As a result, you will have much better results dealing with a bank that operates under the local government of the area you are investing in. For Barcelona and all of the Costa Brava (Mediterranean coast) this means dealing with Catalan banks. For the central Castilian region, you'll want banks based in Madrid. For Basque areas, you'll want to deal with Basque or 'euskadi' banks. Use this cultural knowledge to your advantage or ignore it at your peril.

I recommend: In Catalunya, large banks include La Caixa and the Caixa Catalunya. For a Galician Spain bank (a western province) try the Banco Gallego. Knowing communities is a good tool for banking in Spain.

Find banks with a good online presence and English web pages

This twofold strategy will help you deal with your Spanish banks whether you're in or out of the country. Internet banking has made large inroads in Spain, and its convenience will be especially helpful to foreigners. Investment banks in Spain use handy web-based technology to help users all over the world manage their investments.

I recommend: Bankinter is among the largest banks of Spain. Experts recommend it for online banking in Spain, and its website has English capability. Banco Zaragosano also has a website in English. Look for these in a directory of banks in Spain with online resources.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In addition to getting a good English website, you'll want to arrange for English speaking tellers at the 'caja' or branch. With most banks in Spain, getting English-speaking staff is no guarantee: you'll need to arrange it through your initial contacts.
• •  Check out Internet guides like EuroResidentes to find out more about specific transactions within Spain

If you or your company can understand the regulations when banking in Spain, it'll give you a head start towards profitable offshore investing. However, simply reviewing the regulations will not suffice. You need to know how they affect your company's assets and the regulatory implementation process that banks in Spain use. Most consider the Spanish regulatory system among the most conservative in the world. Their capital requirements are some of the most stringent of all the banking systems.

Besides the governmental regulations imposed on banks in Spain, each bank has its own implementation process and internal regulatory guidelines. Although banking in Spain is comparable to the U.S., there are differences. For instance, each bank in Spain sets its reserve rates based on a weighted average of different assets classes. U.S. banks base their reserves on the given profitability of a bank. This causes banks to decrease lending in bad times and unwisely increase it during boom times. While this is just one example, to explore the subject in-depth there are a few items to consider, such as:

1. Study the basics of the commercial banks in Spain.

2. Review the latest Spain banks regulation publications.

3. Examine the regulations from the Central Spain bank.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research the essential elements of the investment banks in Spain

Understanding the Spain banking system begins with studying how the system operates. If you don't know the economic conditions and banking basics of a country, then it will difficult, if not impossible, to grasp its regulations.

I recommend: Examine the banks of Spain tutorials from Ideal Spain and Spain Expat. Mondaq also provides an excellent overview of banking regulations in Spain. To understand the stability of a bank as it relates to tier one-capital requirements, you can use the information from the Market Pipeline.

Subscribe to financial publications that cover local and global banks in Spain

Before depositing any funds into a Spanish bank, be sure to review the latest articles on the regulatory and economic conditions in the country. The economics of Spain and the regulations usually intertwine and a troubled economy will lead to more regulation and vice versa.

I recommend: Register to receive a subscription to the International Financial Law Review. You can evaluate their article on the Spanish banking regulation prior to purchase. Sign up for a free trial of The Economist for an excellent overview of the Spanish economy and banking system.

Use the central Spanish bank to obtain the latest regulatory information

Banks in Spain laws and regulations come directly from the Banco de Espana or the Central Bank of Spain. This regulatory body sets monetary policy and all the various regulatory requirements for international and national banks in Spain.

I recommend: Evaluate the Central Bank Guide to understand the history of this entity. Review the regulatory resources at the Banco de Espana.