CaixaBank Commits €100bn to Building Greener Finance

CaixaBank, one of Spain’s largest financial services companies, sets out a wide-reaching plan to align its banking model with environmental and social priorities. 

With more than 20 million customers across 4,106 branches in Spain and Portugal, the bank integrates sustainability across its business, aiming to reshape its operations and influence within the financial sector.

Global environmental, social and governance (ESG) assets are expected to reach US$34tn by 2026 and CaixaBank positions itself to play an active part in that transformation.

Its new strategy sets out investment and carbon reduction goals through 2027, with a sharp focus on reducing the climate impact of its services and helping other high-emission companies do the same.

€100bn plan to support low-carbon transition

Between 2025 and 2027, CaixaBank plans to mobilise €100bn (US$116bn) to build what it calls a "greener economy". The bank outlines the funding will support decarbonisation efforts across industries, offering financial backing to projects in renewable energy, clean mobility, industrial transformation and inclusive finance.

CaixaBank states that it will actively engage with 90% of the highest carbon-emitting companies in its portfolio to support their shift towards more sustainable operations.

These companies are typically involved in energy production, heavy industry and logistics, where greenhouse gas emissions are highest. The bank’s goal is to finance their transition by backing viable solutions and technologies.

It ties its investment strategy to annual net zero targets, ensuring all financed activities follow pathways aligned with 2030 climate goals.

The plan prioritises both current and future transition solutions, including technologies not yet widespread across industries.

CaixaBank introduces these measures as part of a broader Environmental and Climate Strategy, which also focuses on internal reductions. It aims to make all its investment portfolios carbon neutral by 2050.

The bank confirms it will stop financing companies involved in thermal coal activity.

Thermal coal is used in electricity generation and is among the most polluting fossil fuels. Exiting this sector aligns CaixaBank’s strategy with global efforts to phase out coal and limit temperature rises.

Cutting emissions across operations

CaixaBank takes direct steps to reduce its operational emissions, targeting energy use, waste and material consumption.

Energy use across its facilities fell by 27.8 % in 2024 compared to its 2021 baseline. The drop comes through replacing fluorescent lighting with LED alternatives in its branches and installing motion sensors and automated light shut-off systems.

It focuses on Scope 3 emissions, which include all indirect emissions not produced by the organisation itself but related to its activities. Waste management is a major part of this.

CaixaBank promotes selective waste collection across its buildings and eliminates single-use plastics in corporate offices.

The bank runs regular internal awareness campaigns to reduce waste, with particular success in cutting toner cartridge use since 2021.

On the paper front, CaixaBank reports a 40% drop in consumption, achieved by switching to digital documentation.

Customers can now opt out of paper receipts at ATMs and sign documents electronically. It further digitises invoicing, contributing further to its reduction targets.

Mobilising funds and supporting inclusion

Sustainable finance is a core pillar of CaixaBank’s strategy. In the first half of 2025, the bank mobilised €20.99bn (US$24bn) in sustainable finance. It was done primarily through direct financing, with the balance generated via intermediation activities such as asset management, bonds, pension funds and investments.

The bank supports emission-intensive activities that do not yet have clean alternatives, helping create new projects focused on reducing the carbon footprint. The investment is part of its 2025-2027 Sustainability Plan, which highlights social and financial inclusion.

Maria Luisa Martinez Gistau, Chief Executive of Communications and International Relations at CaixaBank, comments on LinkedIn: "At CaixaBank we continue to move towards a more sustainable economy.

"In the first half of 2025, we have mobilised almost €21bn ($24bn) in sustainable finance. This means that we have already reached more than 60% of the annual target set in our 2025-2027 Sustainability Plan."

In rural areas, CaixaBank continues to provide mobile offices and ATMs, maintaining banking access where physical branches are limited. It enhances both digital and in-person services to improve accessibility, simplifying legal information and offering financial education to vulnerable individuals