Bank Offices in Barcelona
Currency
Introduced throughout Europe in 2002, the Euro (€) is the currency of the European Union. Notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 €. There are eight Euro coins denominated in 2€, 1€ , 50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢, 2¢, and 1¢ (cents). Most of the Euro coins in Spain will carry Spanish motifs but all Euro coins are accepted as valid currency.
Exchange
You can change money at the city's banks and savings banks as well as at the many exchange booths located in the city centre and at the main points of tourist interest. You can find exchange booths with special opening times at main railway stations and coach terminals, such as the Sants Railway Station and the Barcelona-Nord coach terminal. We recommend using banks and other official exchange houses, to avoid possible frauds. The range of exchange facilities are completed by automatic exchange machines, which are mainly located in the city centre.
Credit Cards
The most widely accepted card in Spain is the Visa card. Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club are also quite recognised. If you see the EuroCard or Access sign, it means that there accept MasterCard. The major banks will allow cash with drawls on credit cards.
Telephone numbers for lost or stolen cards:
American Express
91 572 03 03 (Madrid)
Diners Club
91 547 40 00 (Madrid)
MasterCard
900 97 12 31 (toll-free)
Visa - MasterCard - Servired
93 315 25 12
Thomas Cook
900 99 44 03 (toll-free)
Visa international
900 97 44 45 (toll-free)
Cheques & bank machines (ATM's)
Traveller's cheques can be purchased at American Express, Thomas Cook or your bank. All are exchangeable in Spain, but traveller's cheques in U.S. dollars are not very widely accepted. Hotels and stores tend to give less favourable rates of exchange, therefore the best suggestion is to exchange currency or traveller's cheques at a bank (if you are exchanging travellers cheques you will have to take your passport with you). You pay a commission every time you convert money, so it's better avoid changing small amounts often. Remember that for traveller's cheques you will receive a better rate than cash.
Most bank machines (ATMs) accept VISA and MasterCard credit cards, and usually offer favourable exchange rates. You may be limited to about 300 Euro cash per day from these machines.
Opening Hours
General banking times: Mon-Fri: 8.30am-2pm. Sat: 8.30am-1pm.
(During Summer time banks are closed on Saturdays)
Savings banks time: Mon-Fri: 8.30am-2pm. Thu: 9.30am-2pm and 4.30pm-7.45pm.
(From 1st October to 31st March)
Caixa Catalunya in the information office of Turisme de Barcelona
Address: Plaza Catalunya, 17-S
Mon-Sat: 9am-9pm. Sun: 9am-2pm.
Exchange offices with extended opening hours:
Barcelona-Sants station
Mon-Sun: 8am-10pm.
"El Prat" Airport - "Banco Exterior de España" (American Express)
A and B terminals
Mon-Sun: 7am-11pm
"Banco de Santander" exchange machines
Plaça San Jaime - Passieg Gràcia, 5
Tel: +34 93 302 57 82
Rambla Catalunya, 74 (American Express)
Tel: +34 93 301 11 66
Useful Links
European Central Bank - Information about Euro
Banco De España
Barclays Bank
Caixa Catalunya
HSBC Spain
La Caixa
Santander Central Hispano
Banco Atlantico - Head Office
Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 407 bis
Tel: +34 901 22 11 22
Banco Sabadell - Head Office
Address: Plaza Catalunya, 1
Tel: +34 937289199
Fax: +34 937265740
Website: Banco Sabadell
