The internationalization of Spanish banks

Abstract

The last two decades have witnessed the consolidation ofthe Spanish banking sector as one ofthe mostcompetitive in the world. The largest commercial banks-especially Santander-and the savings banks haveclimbed positions on the international rankings both in terms ofsize and profitability. Moreover, they haveentered numerous markets in Europe and the Americas based on their organizational, technological, andmarketing skills. The great challenges for the future are to establish a presence in the Middle East and Asia, and to pursue growth opportunities in other segments such as investment banking