So lemme tell ya’ll a story: if you ever want to study abroad in Spain and need a bank account, here’s the 411.
Here’s some more stuff about money in Spain.
I had a pop quiz yesterday in Ancient Religion and I WAS SO NOT READY. It was about the Ziusudra creation and flood myth (for those interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziusudra). It’s an ancient Mesopotamian myth. It was a two-part essay quiz about the relationship between people and deities and the purpose of the flood. I told my professor I was pretty lost and he came and sat next to me and explained what he wanted. Every single other student stared at me. Most of them don’t know I’m Erasmus, partially because I’m the only non-Spanish student in that class. This morning I had my first exam in my women in literature class and it went surprisingly better then expected. I didn’t know one question about specific dates but I actually had a general idea on what was going on. We get to use dictionaries but the Spanish to English dictionary I got didn’t have any verbs in it. It was solely for describing stuff and what things were. So that we literally no help at all!
Thankfully I may have the potential to retake any test I do poorly on during the same day as the final exam. And my friend Annalea told me almost no professor has the heart to fail an international student who is taking classes not in their native language. I feel like RMC should be a little more accommodating in that regard. There was a girl from Japan in my j term class and I know she got held to the same standard as me, and English is not her first language. I mean, it’s hard enough to live in a country that’s not your own, and survive and kinda function as an adult, as well as get good grades. I mean, I’ve been here three weeks and I am still figuring out how to buy stationary and use the postal system.
So the Ireland trip is up in the air right now. Amanda Binion and I are supposed to go but she can’t book flights and buses because her American credit card doesn’t enjoy being used online for Spanish buses. Therefore, I don’t really know what’s going on with that. I really want to go.
Also, one of my best friend’s birthday was yesterday. Happy birthday, Teal!
Un saludo,
Natalie
- Unicaja is the biggest financial institution in Southern Spain, and was created in Málaga. There is a branch on basically every corner.
- There are other banks: Santander, Abanca, BBVA, and cajamar. However, my university asked me to use Unicaja.
- The hours of Unicaja are 8:30am-2:15pm Monday through Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday.
- They do NOT reopen after siesta except on Thursday when they are open from 5-7:30pm. This is the absolute best time to go because almost no one is there.
- If you are planning a trip to a bank plan at least at an hour for being there. The lines are atrociously long. If you are doing anything besides a deposit, take your passport with you as identification. Especially if you are opening an account.
- It will take three days for you to get your credit card after opening an account. You must return to the branch in which you opened your account.
- If you are under 27 you will be given a Joven debit card with a chip and a pin, as well as access to Univia, the online and mobile banking service. There is also an app.
- Log into Univia and go to “card configuration” and check the boxes that allow you to use your card online and abroad. If not, you might find yourself in some trouble.
- The ATMs will allow you to change the language ONLY if you have a non-Spanish credit or debit card that you’re using. For example, my bank is First Citizens in the states, and I can change the language when I use that. However, when I go to use my Spanish debit card, there is no option to change the language.
- Cajero is the word for ATM, use it! No one uses the acronym.
- When opening an account, please make sure you ask them to take your Spanish phone number. It is impossible to make transfers between accounts in Spain without it.
- They use your Spanish phone number to send you 5 or 6 digit security code to put into your computer to authorize the transfer.
- Make sure they give you a card with Univia numbers on it. This card contains letters and numbers which sync up to be a second security code for making transfers. Without it, transfers are impossible.
- Lastly, ASK THEM if your account is set up to make transfers, and make sure that the maximum transfer amount is something like 6000 euros.
- I had been trying to make a transfer to my landlord for a week and had gone to the bank several times and each time they said they had fixed it. It ended up being my maximum transfers amount was 0 euros. This made it that I wasn’t authorized to make any sort of transfers.
- After several trips to banks, I ended up being able to make my transfer to pay my landlord rent. My landlord, Ana, lives in Madrid, so I have to transfer between my account and hers.
Here’s some more stuff about money in Spain.
- Right now: $1 = .98euro
- No one uses credit card. It’s almost always cash. I only use my credit card for groceries when my purchase is over 25 euros.
- DO NOT expect restaurants and other places to have credit card readers. Carry at least 20 euros with you at all times.
I had a pop quiz yesterday in Ancient Religion and I WAS SO NOT READY. It was about the Ziusudra creation and flood myth (for those interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziusudra). It’s an ancient Mesopotamian myth. It was a two-part essay quiz about the relationship between people and deities and the purpose of the flood. I told my professor I was pretty lost and he came and sat next to me and explained what he wanted. Every single other student stared at me. Most of them don’t know I’m Erasmus, partially because I’m the only non-Spanish student in that class. This morning I had my first exam in my women in literature class and it went surprisingly better then expected. I didn’t know one question about specific dates but I actually had a general idea on what was going on. We get to use dictionaries but the Spanish to English dictionary I got didn’t have any verbs in it. It was solely for describing stuff and what things were. So that we literally no help at all!
Thankfully I may have the potential to retake any test I do poorly on during the same day as the final exam. And my friend Annalea told me almost no professor has the heart to fail an international student who is taking classes not in their native language. I feel like RMC should be a little more accommodating in that regard. There was a girl from Japan in my j term class and I know she got held to the same standard as me, and English is not her first language. I mean, it’s hard enough to live in a country that’s not your own, and survive and kinda function as an adult, as well as get good grades. I mean, I’ve been here three weeks and I am still figuring out how to buy stationary and use the postal system.
So the Ireland trip is up in the air right now. Amanda Binion and I are supposed to go but she can’t book flights and buses because her American credit card doesn’t enjoy being used online for Spanish buses. Therefore, I don’t really know what’s going on with that. I really want to go.
Also, one of my best friend’s birthday was yesterday. Happy birthday, Teal!
Un saludo,
Natalie