Six leading banking groups in Spain, together with several major Spanish companies, reported a combined net profit of 16,014 million euros for the first nine months of the year. This represents a robust year‑over‑year increase of 32 percent when compared with the same period in 2021, once removing the effects of extraordinary events from that earlier year, including structural changes tied to mergers such as CaixaBank and Bankia.
Banco Santander delivered an attributable profit of 7,316 million euros in the January‑September window of 2022, marking a 25 percent rise in current euros versus the prior year. When exceptional items of 530 million euros from the 2021 period are excluded, ordinary profit still shows a solid 15 percent gain in current euros, underscoring improving core earnings across its international operations.
BBVA posted an attributable profit of 4,842 million euros between January and September, up 47 percent from the same period the year before. At current exchange rates the increase stands at 46.2 percent. If non‑recurring effects are stripped out, profit climbs to 5,044 million euros, equivalent to a 37.1 percent rise, highlighting resilient performance across the group’s activities.
Both Santander and BBVA continue to contribute significantly to the group’s income statements, reflecting the weight of their international operations within the overall earnings profile.
In Spain itself, Santander’s ordinary profit reached 1,104 million euros in the first nine months, nearly doubling year over year. This surge comes from a notable reduction in loan loss provisions by 27 percent and cost containment of around 2 percent, signaling improved credit quality and operating efficiency.
BBVA Spain achieved a recurring result of 1,514 million euros from January to September, up 27.1 percent year over year. The improvement stems from stronger returns on funding, higher interest margins, and enhanced net commissions, alongside disciplined control of operating expenses and provisions.
CaixaBank reported a net attributable profit of 2,457 million euros through September, rising 17.7 percent from the year‑earlier period on a like‑for‑like basis. When applying the merger integration impacts, the underlining profitability shows a different rhythm, reflecting how one‑off factors can affect the reported figures. However, on a comparable basis, the bank maintained positive momentum as it continues to integrate its expanded franchise.
Banco Sabadell posted a net profit of 709 million euros during January to September, almost doubling the 370 million earned in the prior year. Excluding the TSB contribution, net attributable profit reached 616 million euros, more than doubling the 288 million euros observed in the first nine months of 2021, demonstrating the profitability gains from the reorganized structure and ongoing commercial execution.
Bankinter Group achieved a net profit of 430.1 million euros in the first nine months of the year, reflecting a 21.2 percent increase over the same period in the previous year, supported by steady growth in lending, fees, and recurring income streams.
Finally, Unicaja Banco reported a net profit of 260 million euros for the nine months, up 67.1 percent from the prior year. The positive momentum underscores ongoing improvements in efficiency, asset quality, and revenue generation across its domestic portfolio.