Major Spanish Banks Report Strong Profit Growth in 2025 with €34 Billion Combined Earnings

In 2025, Spain's leading banks collectively posted a net profit of €34 billion, marking a significant 7% increase compared to €31.7 billion in 2024. This growth reflects the strength of their commercial activity and improved efficiency amidst a challenging low-interest-rate environment.

Banco Santander led the pack with a record net profit of €14.1 billion, up 12% from the previous year. This gain was driven by robust income and a record €13.66 billion in net commissions. The bank reported a return on tangible equity (RoTE) of 16.5% and announced its acquisition of Webster Bank for approximately $12.2 billion, targeting a 20% RoTE by 2028.

Following Santander, BBVA posted a net profit of €10.5 billion, a 4.5% increase, with an impressive RoTE of 19.3%. CaixaBank's profit stood at €5.9 billion, up 1.8%, supported by a steadfast 17.5% return on equity.

Not all banks saw increases; Banco Sabadell experienced a 2.8% decline in profit to €1.775 billion, attributed to extraordinary impacts. Nevertheless, it expects a profit rise in 2026. Leadership changes at Sabadell were announced, with CEO César González-Bueno planning to leave in May 2024, to be succeeded by Marc Armengol, signaling new leadership as the bank prepares for transformation.

Meanwhile, Bankinter reported a solid 14.4% rise in net profit to €1.09 billion and a RoTE of 20%, showcasing strong efficiency. Unicaja's profit increased by 10.3% to €632 million, with intentions to significantly raise shareholder dividends.

Overall, these financial results are driven by stable income and cost containment through digitalization, improving the banks' efficiency ratios and positioning them well for future growth amid economic uncertainties.