Spanish banks: the collapse of the property market and the euro crisis
Jos Deuling, Friday, 17 August 2012
The three big banks in Spain, Santander Group, BBVA and La Caixa are less affected by the Spanish banking crisis. This is because they also operate internationally and are less dependent on the poor economic situation in Spain. Banks that operate exclusively on the Spanish market have more problems. The Caja de Ahorros del Mediterraneo (CAM) went bankrupt e.g. This bankruptcy threatens the savings of many foreign retirees on the Costa Blanca. They may lose their money. So you have to be careful if you need a Spanish mortgage or if you want to deposit your savings in a Spanish bank.
On this page, you will find information about 19 different Spanish banks. In alphabetical order. The information comes from newspaper sites and sites like Wikipedia. I have also added a link to the website of each bank.
Banca March
came in July 2010 in the first place in a stress test of the European Union. The bank operates primarily in the Balearic and Canary islands.
More info at
BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria)
is the second largest bank in Spain. The bank is engaged in an international expansion and is currently active in 40 countries. In early May 2012, BBVA has 1.8 billion euros provision for risky loans in the real estate sector.
BBVA in the press :
(guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 July 2012)
More info at
Banco Caixa Geral
. I haven’t found much information about this bank except that it is part of Portugal's largest bank, Caixa Geral de Depósitos. The Portuguese government is the owner of Caixa Geral de Depósitos.
More info at
Banco de Valencia
is also a victim of the collapse of the Spanish housing market. In November 2011, the bank was taken over by the Spanish government. More info on the reasons for the takeover can be found here
Banco Etcheverría
is the oldest bank in Spain. The bank operates in all 4 provinces of .
More info at
Banco Popular Español
is the fourth largest bank in Spain. In May 2012, the long-term credit rating of the bank was downgraded to junk status : .
Banco Popular in the press :
(businessweek.com, Friday 27 July, 2012)
More info on Banco Popular at
Banco Sabadell
is the fourth largest bank in Spain. She bought early this year for a symbolic amount the bankrupt Caja de Ahorros del Mediterraneo (CAM). Thousands of Dutch, German and British pensioners on the Costa Blanca had placed their savings in the CAM.
More info on Banco Sabadell at
Bankia
didn’t meet the requirements of the European banking authority EBA and had to ask for a bailout :.
More info on Bankia at
Bankinter
is the 5th largest bank in Spain. Credit Agricole, the largest banking group in France, has a 20% stake in Bankinter.
More info onBankinter at
Caja General de Ahorros de Canarias
is the largest bank in the Canary Islands with more than 200 branches.
More info at
Caja Laboral
is a bank from the Spanish Basque Country.
More info on Caja Laboral at
CatalunyaCaixa
is the fourth largest savings bank in Spain and the largest bank in Catalonia. This year, the bank needed a capital injection from the Spanish government.
Very concise info at
Kutxa
is a savings bank for the San Sebastián and Gipuzkoa regions.
More info at
La Caixa
is the largest savings bank in Europe and is the third largest financial institution in Spain with more than 5000 branches and more than 10 million customers.
More info at
Novacaixagalicia
is a savings bank from Galicia.
More info at
Santander Group
. Considering the market value, the Santander Group is the largest bank in the Eurozone and one of the largest banks in the world. Santander Group is an international bank rather than a Spanish bank.
Comprehensive information at
Unicaja
operates primarily in the south of Spain.
More info at
The three big banks in Spain, Santander Group, BBVA and La Caixa are less affected by the Spanish banking crisis. This is because they also operate internationally and are less dependent on the poor economic situation in Spain. Banks that operate exclusively on the Spanish market have more problems. The Caja de Ahorros del Mediterraneo (CAM) went bankrupt e.g. This bankruptcy threatens the savings of many foreign retirees on the Costa Blanca. They may lose their money. So you have to be careful if you need a Spanish mortgage or if you want to deposit your savings in a Spanish bank.
On this page, you will find information about 19 different Spanish banks. In alphabetical order. The information comes from newspaper sites and sites like Wikipedia. I have also added a link to the website of each bank.
Banca March
came in July 2010 in the first place in a stress test of the European Union. The bank operates primarily in the Balearic and Canary islands.
More info at
BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria)
is the second largest bank in Spain. The bank is engaged in an international expansion and is currently active in 40 countries. In early May 2012, BBVA has 1.8 billion euros provision for risky loans in the real estate sector.
BBVA in the press :
(guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 July 2012)
More info at
Banco Caixa Geral
. I haven’t found much information about this bank except that it is part of Portugal's largest bank, Caixa Geral de Depósitos. The Portuguese government is the owner of Caixa Geral de Depósitos.
More info at
Banco de Valencia
is also a victim of the collapse of the Spanish housing market. In November 2011, the bank was taken over by the Spanish government. More info on the reasons for the takeover can be found here
Banco Etcheverría
is the oldest bank in Spain. The bank operates in all 4 provinces of .
More info at
Banco Popular Español
is the fourth largest bank in Spain. In May 2012, the long-term credit rating of the bank was downgraded to junk status : .
Banco Popular in the press :
(businessweek.com, Friday 27 July, 2012)
More info on Banco Popular at
Banco Sabadell
is the fourth largest bank in Spain. She bought early this year for a symbolic amount the bankrupt Caja de Ahorros del Mediterraneo (CAM). Thousands of Dutch, German and British pensioners on the Costa Blanca had placed their savings in the CAM.
More info on Banco Sabadell at
Bankia
didn’t meet the requirements of the European banking authority EBA and had to ask for a bailout :.
More info on Bankia at
Bankinter
is the 5th largest bank in Spain. Credit Agricole, the largest banking group in France, has a 20% stake in Bankinter.
More info onBankinter at
Caja General de Ahorros de Canarias
is the largest bank in the Canary Islands with more than 200 branches.
More info at
Caja Laboral
is a bank from the Spanish Basque Country.
More info on Caja Laboral at
CatalunyaCaixa
is the fourth largest savings bank in Spain and the largest bank in Catalonia. This year, the bank needed a capital injection from the Spanish government.
Very concise info at
Kutxa
is a savings bank for the San Sebastián and Gipuzkoa regions.
More info at
La Caixa
is the largest savings bank in Europe and is the third largest financial institution in Spain with more than 5000 branches and more than 10 million customers.
More info at
Novacaixagalicia
is a savings bank from Galicia.
More info at
Santander Group
. Considering the market value, the Santander Group is the largest bank in the Eurozone and one of the largest banks in the world. Santander Group is an international bank rather than a Spanish bank.
Comprehensive information at
Unicaja
operates primarily in the south of Spain.
More info at
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