Barcelona, 31 March 2023 – The European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB) attended an event organised to celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Caja de Ingenieros, member bank of the EACB and UNACC (Spanish Association of Cooperative Banks). Central part of the celebrations was a conference during which a commemorative book “55 Años de banca futura, una historia de futuro in Barcelona” was presented. Distinguished guests, high-level policymakers, academics, and industry representatives attended the event including Alvaro Lopez Barcelo, General Director of the Spanish Treasury, Josep M Sánchez Pascual, General Director of the Treasury of Generalitat de Catalunya, as well as Félix Masjuan, President of Caja de Ingenieros, delivering the keynote.
“55 Años de banca futura, una historia de futuro in Barcelona” traces the cooperative banking groups’ journey over the past 55 years, and provides impressing evidence of its achievements, contributions to the community, and commitment to cooperative banking. It is a testimony to the cooperative's commitment to its members, customers, and the community.
A part of the conference consisted of a roundtable discussion on the role of cooperative banks in the economy. The panel was moderated by journalist Ramon Pellicer and included remarks by the authors of the book, Yolanda Blasco and Eloi Serrano, Nina Schindler, CEO of EACB, Cristina Freijanes, Secretary General of UNACC, and Joan Cavalle, General Director of Caja de Ingenieros.
Nina Schindler, CEO of the EACB, congratulated Caja de Ingenieros on its milestone anniversary and its continuous contribution to the development of cooperative banking in Spain and Europe:
“Caja de Ingenieros' journey is a remarkable success story of a thriving cooperative bank that accompanied the transformation of Spain and Catalonia in the past decades, and that is set to continue its journey with confidence. Caja de Ingenieros can proudly look back to a constant loan growth over the years, and its crucial role in the provision of financing the local economy" declared Nina Schindler. “As the financial sector and society at large undergo significant changes, it is imperative for cooperative banks to adapt while preserving their identity, keeping member benefits and community development at the core of their long-term business approach. Caja de Ingenieros managed to build a dense branch network while investing in their mobile banking services, which have been well accepted by its members. Keeping this in mind, I am confident that Caja de Ingenieros is well-equipped to meet the challenges that lie ahead and is set for a promising future.”