Our chairwoman, Alejandra Kindelán, today explained the progress made by the banking sector to strengthen financial inclusion across Spain. “200,000 people will have access to financial services in rural areas in just over a year.”
Speaking at the ’30th Financial Meeting’ by Deloitte and ABC, Kindelán presented some data from the status report of the ‘roadmap’ signed a year ago by the three banking associations (AEB, CECA, and Unacc).
The Valencian Institute of Economic Research (IVIE), led by Professor Joaquín Maudos, then created a situation map and identified 243 municipalities without a financial services access point.
One year after the commitment was made, following the launch of public tenders (with elections in between), the signing of collaboration agreements, and the willingness of the entities… 93% of these municipalities now have—or have already tendered for—such an access point, through ATMs, mobile bank branches, offices, financial agents, and post offices.
Regarding the improvement of personalized attention for the elderly, she emphasized that the sector combines specific attention for certain groups with digital transformation, thereby redoubling efforts in digital literacy and financial education, “so that anyone who wishes can participate and no one is left behind.”
Among the improvements in in-person service for the elderly, she highlighted the increase in the number of offices with extended cash service from 9 AM to 2 PM, reaching 82.2%. In the first half of the year, 5.6 million people received preferential attention, and over 2 million by phone.
“We are committed to the country’s challenges, such as rural depopulation and the aging population,” she affirmed, convinced that “the banking sector fulfills its commitments” and that “public-private collaboration is fundamental.”
In this regard, she emphasized that collaboration agreements with entities and associations, such as the Platform for the Elderly and Pensioners (PMP), SECOT, Fundación Telefónica, or Somos Digital, among others, are also essential.
