Confederación Española de Cajas de Ahorros

CECA is a banking association committed to representing, defending and promoting its member entities’ interests. It provides them with advice and supports them in their endeavour to offer services that promote financial inclusion and access to credit. This work is undertaken with a sustainable approach, notably featuring Obra Social and financial education.

CECA is an active member of the international associations that represent the retail banking model which prioritises financing for families and SMEs, a model with which CECA’s member entities are fully identified with. The model that identifies all entities of the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) is characterised by the so-called 3Rs: 1) Retail / Retailers: Focused on the financing of families and SMEs; 2) Rooted/ Taken root: Rooted in the community. Linked and committed to the development of the territories in which they operate; 3) Responsible / People in charge: Identified with Obra Social and sustainability.

Geographic Focus

Spain

Programme Areas

Our activity is divided into four main areas:

• Institutional representation: Defense of our member entities’ interests in national and international forums.
• Economic and regulatory analysis: Exhaustive follow-up regulatory of the national and international agendas and economic studies ad-hoc.
• Sustainability and Obra Social: Dissemination and promotion of the Obra Social, financial education and sustainability.
• Worker representation: Defense of member entities that are bound by the sector’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The Obra Social of CECA’s member entities constitutes Spain’s leading source of private social investment, reflecting a firm commitment to building a more equitable and inclusive society. CECA represents banking institutions and more than thirty banking and ordinary foundations. In 2024, CECA Foundations and associated entities collectively invested over €906 million in social initiatives, positioning them as the country’s largest private social investor. This significant level of investment enables the development of programs that directly address societal needs across a wide range of areas.

The social programs implemented by CECA’s entities and foundations encompass fields such as social assistance, financial education, job creation, cultural development, research, and environmental protection, among others. Another major strength of CECA’s contribution to society lies in the extensive territorial presence of its member entities. Thanks to the wide presence of its foundations and banks throughout the country, CECA is able to reach diverse population groups – including those in vulnerable or remote areas – ensuring that its impact is both far-reaching and deeply rooted in local communities.

Furthermore, CECA and its associated entities demonstrate a strong commitment to Financial Education and Sustainability. In the field of financial education, CECA, its member entities continue to work on their social vocation with the conviction that financial education is more necessary than ever, as it is vital to have financially responsible citizens, who manage their resources in the most efficient way, and to enhance digitalization when it comes to disseminating knowledge and skills. Also, in terms of sustainability, CECA and its member entities are aware that the financial sector can promote changes that will bring it closer to achieving the 2030 Agenda, which sets out the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to implement actions aimed to social and environmental improvement throughout the world. Furthermore, CECA adheres to the WSBI-ESBG Charter for Responsible and Sustainable Business.