Banco Sabadell will open an office for foreign residents on Avenida Diagonal

Barcelona gains attractiveness for foreign professionals. It is estimated that 22% of the population of the Catalan capital comes from other countries, with 179 different nationalities represented in the city. The emergence of technological hubs of large corporations and the demand for qualified professionals from all over the world by startups boost the arrival of international talent and, consequently, the offer of services aimed at this group grows.

A good example of this is Banco Sabadell's new Welcome Hub, a new office specialized in foreign residents that the financial institution will open at number 456 of Avenida Diagonal next January 10. It is a large-format branch with 950 square meters built spread over three floors and will be staffed by a team of twelve specialized bankers who will be able to serve clients in English, French, and German, as well as in Catalan and Spanish.

"Banco Sabadell has always opted for specialization, we are the bank for companies and, traditionally, we have also been for foreigners; we are already leaders in this segment and now we are redoubling our commitment with the Welcome Hub," explain sources from the entity, who recall that Sabadell has always offered a package of specialized services and products for this group and for expatriate professionals.

Until now, the bank had three reference offices for foreigners in Barcelona, but they were not specific to them, but coexisted within a traditional branch. With the Welcome Hub, a 100% dedicated office has been created to which all foreign clients from these three traditional offices have been transferred. "The entire portfolio of expats and foreigners of Sabadell in Barcelona will be managed from the new Diagonal center, which aims to be a meeting point for this group and a platform to facilitate their landing in the city," explains Roger Pi, director of the Welcome Hub.

The idea is that this specialized branch will provide 360º financial services to any foreigner who comes to live in Barcelona, to work in any of its companies, or to invest in businesses or in the purchase of homes. Thus, from the Welcome Hub, one can open a current account, direct debit bills, payroll, obtain a mortgage, manage money transfers with accounts in their country of origin, process the golden visa, contract health or home insurance, and also obtain advice on taxation and tax residence, among other services. In addition, the office will provide organizational support to expats, also accompanying them in other types of non-financial procedures or services necessary for their arrival in Barcelona.

This new office is aimed at any foreigner, whether a young person who has just started their career, for example, as a programmer in a startup, or a senior executive of a multinational. "It is a multidisciplinary office that covers all types of clients and financial services, from the most basic to private banking," says Pi.

The Welcome Hub of Banco Sabadell is located on Avenida Diagonal, between Paseo de Gracia and Rambla Catalunya, in a premises that, formerly, had been the main office of Caixa Penedès in the city, next to the headquarters of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce. The branch is now in full remodeling phase and will open after Three Kings' Day. On the street-level floor (190 useful square meters), there will be a reception area and several offices to receive clients, in addition to a coworking area also aimed at them.

On the upper floor (225 square meters) there will be more meeting spaces with clients and the operational room, from where the twelve professionals specialized in serving foreign residents will work. Finally, in the underground floor (215 square meters) work rooms and a conference and event organization center will be set up.