Barclays Bank or Cam Bank? - Recommendations please

So - everything is being organised now.  would love to have some feedback on which banks the UK people are using.  We have banked with Barclays for years and years and have had no major issues.  we live abroad anyway and our local bank in dubai is Lloyds as opposed to Barclays.  we are buying our apartment from Cam Bank - so......who would you recommend opening our spanish bank account with.

We need to be able to use internet banking easily for all our transactions.  What are your experiences please with the banks there in Spain.

Many thanks (again!)  in anticipation of your responses.

Hi Claire

We have both Barclays and Cam bank accounts in Spain using the branches in Puerto de Mazarron.  Both have English speaking staff.  We bank with Barclays in England and transfer of money from Barclays to Barclays is free of charge over £1,000.

Both have easy to use internet sites and we have transferred money from Barclays to Cam Bank without any problems.  We have had more contact with Barclays Branch via email and telephone and found them very helpful. 

Touch wood, we haven't had any problems with either.

SimonAng

Hello Claire

We bank at Barclays in Puerto Mazarron.  They are brilliant.  Visited them last September and then again last week - when we went in the Manager looked up and said Ah Jeremy!!!  Bit peeved he didn't remember my name and I have all the money!!!

The Spanish banks seem to charge you if you break wind in Spain.  No seriously they charge you for plastic cards (ours with CajaMurcia were about 40 euros each and this is every year) and for the privilege of having an account with them.   We eventually cancelled our account with them to go to Barclays.

The only gripe I have got with Barclays is all transactions are free in Spain but here in Britain they charge you to transfer sterling to your account in Spain -bit naughty really.

Maybe others have good experiences with Spanish banks on this web site and can help you.

All the best - Jane

Hello Claire

Jane here again - hust noticed SimonAng's info on Barclays.  Didn't  know if you transferred over £1000 it was free so thanks SimonAng for this info.

Jane

I don't bank with Barclays or Cam Bank.

I found for me to open an X current account with the Halifax in Engalnd, having a minimal balance in the current account whenever I wish to transfer monies to Halifaxbanco.es there is no fee no problem, and Halifax in Spain, is only 10 mins away from the Condado. Halifaxbanco is good because evreything you can do is by telephone or online.  Must add when I transfered my final balance a few months earlier than completion, because of the exchange rate falling, I can only give them 100% for their quick response by phone and fax etc.

My final purchace balance I transfered with Halo Finance but obviously you have to go with who is offering the best deal for you at the time of transfer.

Hope that helps

Thanks everyone for responses here and the PMs I have had too.  Barclays in Mazarron seems to be highly recommended so it's probably going to be easiest for us to open an account there too. 

The lawyer we have taken on from recommendations here has already sent all our power of attorney stuff so just need my husband to be in the same country as me so we can get to the Spanish Embassy to sign and get the documents stamped and then we are a step closer to that chilled wine on the patio at CDA!

Many many thanks for your responses.

Claire

One thing of interest to for all those who bank with Barclay is the last time I was over they said to me I could send them a sterling cheque each month to cover the mortgage and they would transfer this to euros free of charge.  The told me the rate would be better than what I had been getting transferring money through Currencies Direct. 

I duly sent the cheque for the first time to cover March but was a bit disappointed with the rate.  I will give it a couple of months and see.  The only thing is you can send varying amounts each month if you so wish.

Also new customers with Barclays in Spain will get 3% refund on all bills paid by direct debit from the account which is good.

Linda

HI Jackie

]where is the Halifax near to Condado.

my branch is in Los Alcasaros (Wrong spelling!!)

Julie

Julie,   Here's their details in Puerto Mazarron..

C.C. La Pirámide, local 8.
Puerto de Mazarrón
30860 Mazarrón

mazarron@halifax.es

thank you

Julie

Hi Julie

 Its over the road from Lidls, if thats any help.  Hope you okay, sorry it was only a quick hello goodbye when we met, maybe have a drink and chat next time.

Hi Jackie

thanks for this.

jope to have a drink next time we see each other.

take care

Julie

 Hi, we have found Banco Halifax in Puerto Mazzaron to be really good.

Free transfers from Bank of Scotland accounts.