Verification Methodology
How I test each bank every 48 hours and keep guides accurate
What does "verified" mean?
When you see a 🟢 "Verified today" badge on a guide, it means I personally tested that bank's signup process in the last 48 hours.
I don't just check their website. I actually go through the signup flow, upload documents, and verify what they accept or reject.
If I haven't verified in more than 72 hours, the badge changes to 🟡 "Reviewing changes" until I test again.
The verification process
Every 48 hours, I test each bank following this process:
1Start the signup flow
I open the bank's app or website and begin the account application process. I use real information (passport, address) but stop before final submission if I've already verified the requirements.
2Document requirements
I screenshot each step showing what documents they ask for. If they require NIE at any point, I note it. If they accept passport only, I confirm it.
3Test edge cases
I test scenarios migrants actually face: temporary addresses, Airbnb addresses, passport without NIE, etc. Not just the ideal scenario.
4Update the guide
If anything changed (new document required, different process, rejection), I update the guide immediately. If nothing changed, I update the verification timestamp.
5Update changelog
Every change is documented in the guide's changelog with date and what changed. You can see the full history of what banks have modified.
What happens if something stops working?
I remove the guide that same day.
If a bank starts requiring NIE when they didn't before, or if they change requirements that make it impossible for migrants to open accounts, I don't keep the guide published with outdated information.
My commitment:
If a bank stops accepting passport-only applications, I remove the guide within 24 hours of discovering the change. I won't keep outdated information just because they pay affiliate commissions.
Why every 48 hours?
Banks change requirements without warning. What works today might not work tomorrow.
48 hours is frequent enough to catch changes quickly but realistic enough that I can actually maintain it long-term. Daily checks would be ideal but unsustainable.
If you report a change before my 48-hour check, I verify it immediately and update the guide.
How can you help?
If you try to open an account following one of these guides and something doesn't match, please tell me.
Email me at contact@ibrahingil.com or use the feedback form on any guide. Include:
- Which bank you tried
- What date you tried
- What was different from the guide
- Screenshot if possible (with personal data removed)
This helps me verify changes faster and keep guides accurate for everyone.
Changelog transparency
Every guide includes a public changelog showing:
- Date of each verification
- What changed (if anything)
- What was tested
- Current status (works / doesn't work / partially works)
You can see the full history of each bank's requirements and know exactly when something changed.
Limitations of this methodology
I need to be honest about what this verification process can and can't do:
What it CAN verify: Document requirements, signup process, what they ask for upfront.
What it CAN'T fully verify: Approval/rejection decisions (banks don't always explain why), country-specific restrictions (I can't test with every nationality's passport), edge cases I haven't encountered.
That's why user feedback is crucial. Your real-world experience fills gaps my testing can't cover.