Santander Portugal review
Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Santander Portugal is a Portuguese everyday account that suits students, teens and expats who want banking without a monthly charge: the monthly fee is €0. The trade-off sits in currency conversion, where the card fee of 3% is higher than many rivals in the listings.
Key facts
- Best for
- A euro everyday account in Portugal with no monthly charge and free cash withdrawals.
- Monthly fee
- €0↗
- Deposit protection
- EU DGS up to EUR 100,000↗
- Currency conversion fee
- 3%↗
- Free ATM withdrawals
- €500↗
- Transfer fee
- Free unlimited SEPA+ credit transfers and standing orders (normal and instant) to any account at national or European banks in the SEPA+ space; international transfers in GBP to the UK and PLN to Poland are exempt up to the equivalent of EUR 1,000 via NetBanco (Conta Santander Mais)↗
- Legal entity
- Banco Santander Totta, S.A.↗
- Headquarters
- Portugal↗
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre↗
- Audience
- Expats, Students, Teens
- Features
- Free ATM withdrawals
- Official website
- santander.pt
Pros and cons
Pros
- SEPA+ credit transfers and standing orders, normal and instant, to any national or European bank in that space cost nothing, and the transfer fee is €0.
- Free ATM withdrawals up to €500 come with the account.
- Deposits sit under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000.
- The account is aimed at expats, student and teen.
Cons
- Currency conversion on the debit card costs 3%, and the brand ranks at 262 of 312 on that measure, so converting money is the weak spot.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, with no live chat option in the listed channels.
- International transfers take Typically 1 to 5 business days for international transfers, so they do not suit urgent cross-border payments.
Who it suits
- Students and teens in Portugal who want an everyday account with no monthly charge, which is €0.
- Expats in Portugal who want a euro account with cash machine access and deposit protection under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000.
- Anyone paying and receiving in the euro inside the SEPA+ area who values free standing orders and instant payments.
Who should look elsewhere
- Pixpay FR, at a monthly fee of €3.99, is the alternative for anyone who does not mind a charge to hold a euro account.
- Credit Agricole Egypt Member Get Member, at a monthly fee of EGP 50, serves readers shopping for a paid account rather than a free one.
- JazzCash, whose monthly fee is PKR 0, matches Santander Portugal on account cost and suits readers banking in another market.
Who runs it
Santander Portugal is operated by Banco Santander Totta, S.A. and is based in Portugal. It is supervised by Banco de Portugal, and the banking licence sits with that regulator as 18. Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help is available by phone, by email and through the online help centre.
How Santander Portugal compares
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 8.6
9.1 vs 8.0
9.1 vs 8.9
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 8.7A euro account at a monthly fee of €3.99, so the trade-off is paying for the account rather than holding it free.
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.3
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.9
9.1 vs 8.9- 9.1 vs 8.9
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.4
9.1 vs 8.3
9.1 vs 8.2
9.1 vs 8.1- 9.1 vs 8.1
9.1 vs 8.0
9.1 vs 8.0
9.1 vs 8.0
9.1 vs 9.1
Where Santander Portugal is available
- Available
- Portugal
- Licence in Portugal
- Banco de Portugal (18), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does the Santander Mais account cost each month?+
The monthly fee is €0 and the transfer fee is €0. SEPA+ credit transfers and standing orders, normal and instant, to any national or European bank in the SEPA+ space are free. Sterling transfers to the UK and zloty transfers to Poland are exempt up to a set amount through NetBanco.
Is money in the account protected if the bank fails?+
Deposits are covered by EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, the EU deposit guarantee scheme. The account is run by Banco Santander Totta, S.A., which is based in Portugal and holds a banking licence from Banco de Portugal: 18.
What does it cost to take out cash?+
The free atm feature on the account covers cash machine withdrawals up to €500. The account adds no separate monthly charge, since the monthly fee is €0, the same as the site median of €0.
How expensive is converting money on the debit card?+
The card conversion fee is 3%, and in the listings Santander Portugal ranks at 262 of 312 on that measure. Converting through the card is the costly route, while SEPA+ transfers between European banks cost €0.
How long does an international transfer take?+
International transfers take Typically 1 to 5 business days for international transfers, so money sent abroad needs planning ahead. Inside the SEPA+ area, credit transfers and standing orders are unlimited and free, which suits regular euro payments between European banks.
Who is the account aimed at?+
The account is listed for expats, student and teen. A monthly fee of €0 and an ATM allowance of €500 make it a practical everyday account in Portugal, and EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 covers the money held in it.
How do I get money out of the account?+
Payouts run to bank and wallet, so money can be sent to a bank account or a wallet. Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so a question about a delayed payout can go to the bank directly rather than through an app chat.
Sources
- play.google.com/store/apps/details checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Payout methods
- santander.pt checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience
“Para si: Select, Jovens, Universitarios, Private Banking, Geracao 65+, Residentes no exterior, Estrangeiros”
- santander.pt/cartao-debito/cartao-debito-santander checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Deposit protection, Currency conversion fee, Headquarters, Legal entity, Support channels, Licences
“BANCO SANTANDER TOTTA, S.A., RUA AUREA, 88, 1100-063 LISBOA, Portugal”
- santander.pt/contas/conta-santander-mais checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free ATM withdrawals, Features, Monthly fee, Transfer fee, Fee to send 1,000
“Transferencias a credito e ordens permanentes SEPA+ normais e/ou imediatas gratuitas ilimitadas”
- santander.pt/estrangeiros checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Delivery time
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Licence type, Currencies.
Related by the facts
Santander Portugal
A euro everyday account in Portugal with no monthly charge and free cash withdrawals.