The Bank of Spain has presented its 2025 Financial Inclusion Report, which finds that in person access to banking services and cash improved between 2021 and 2024 despite continued cuts to branches and ATMs. The improvement was strongest for groups at risk of exclusion, notably older people and rural communities, while a new section on immigrants identifies a high risk of financial exclusion for migrants in an irregular situation because of difficulties accessing basic payment accounts and lower financial literacy. The report attributes most of the access gains to the rollout of mobile branches. Over 2021 to 2024, 608 municipalities, mostly with fewer than 500 inhabitants, gained in person banking services. In municipalities of that size, access points rose 55% through the addition of 712 mobile branches and 175 fixed ATMs. By end-2024, 2,638 municipalities, or 32.4% of the total, still had no in person access, but that was 18.7% fewer than in 2021. The number of people without access fell by one third to below 500,000, reducing the share of the population affected from 1.4% to 0.9%. Total access points still declined 2.5% to 67,166 as branches and ATMs closed, partly offset by 1,166 more mobile branches, whose use remains limited. On immigrant inclusion, the report finds no general access problem among those with regular status, but says irregular migrants continue to face major barriers. Basic payment accounts remain scarce for that group, at roughly one account for every eight irregular migrants, with obstacles including lack of information, limited supply and anti money laundering requirements. The report says these accounts are not fully serving their inclusion role and points to stronger financial education, easier account access and product and practice changes to help firms manage regulatory risks. It also notes that Spain's draft law on the Financial Customer Ombudsman Authority includes measures to clarify and facilitate access.
Bank of Spain2026-05-26
Bank of Spain reports better in person access to banking services despite branch closures and flags exclusion risks for irregular migrants
The Bank of Spain’s 2025 Financial Inclusion Report finds that in-person access to banking services and cash improved between 2021 and 2024, driven mainly by mobile branches, despite fewer branches and ATMs. Municipalities and people without access fell significantly, especially older people and rural communities, though 32.4% of municipalities still lack access. The report highlights persistent barriers for irregular migrants, including scarce basic payment accounts and anti–money laundering constraints, and calls for stronger financial education, easier account access, product and practice changes, and notes supporting measures in the draft law on the Financial Customer Ombudsman Authority.