Arcadi España, the Minister of Finance and Economic Model, addressed the European Commission on Tuesday to outline a pilot program aimed at improving access to financial services for seniors. The plan involves installing ATMs in neighborhood hubs across major cities to reduce financial exclusion in parts of the region.
In elaborating the initiative, the Valencia finance chief explained that the program will operate with two integrated components. ATMs will be placed in public buildings, health centers, and other municipal spaces, complemented by mobile financial services such as bank vans or office buses. These measures are designed to ensure that all residents, wherever they live in the Community of Valencia, can access essential banking services conveniently.
España emphasized the objective of giving the Generalitat a proactive edge in addressing financial exclusion. The approach has already been piloted in smaller municipalities within the Community, and the current focus shifts to mid-sized and larger city neighborhoods where the consolidation of bank branches has most affected older residents, reducing their day-to-day financial options.
The Treasury head spoke after a working meeting with the cabinet of the European Commission Financial Services, Financial Stability, and Capital Markets Association to advance concrete steps that guarantee reliable access to banking services for all citizens.
He noted that the challenge of bank branch closures and rapid digitalization is not confined to the Valencian Community but is a nationwide trend in Spain. The Generalitat is working to minimize the burden on seniors who must handle pension inquiries or manage paperwork in person, while also expanding digital literacy and access for those who need it most.
Neighborhood-based banking services
During the discussions, Arcadi España informed regional technicians that the recent reduction in bank branches affects not only sparsely populated towns but also neighborhoods in the Community’s largest cities, including Valencia, Alicante, Castellón de la Plana, and Elche.
He described these neighborhoods as home to 12,000 to 15,000 residents, often with an aging population, where the loss of branches occurs without a compensatory increase in the remaining banks. The Treasury minister provided a detailed breakdown of the impact and the need for new delivery points that keep essential services within reach.
This initiative seeks to prevent financial marginalization by offering face-to-face access to basic banking services and the ability to manage everyday finances in a familiar setting, reinforcing the personal connection between citizens and their financial institutions.
New rural ATM expansion in Alicante
Supporters of the plan argue that residents in affected neighborhoods frequently travel long distances for basic financial services. Access to in-person care and consultation remains crucial for vulnerable groups, so the new project aims to curb financial exclusion by enabling local, accessible banking experiences that fit daily life.
The overarching goal is to empower citizens to engage directly with financial institutions and tailor services to their own routines, ensuring that essential tasks like pension inquiries and document management are less burdensome.
iai@ connectat program
Arcadi España presented to the European Commission the actions taken by the Generalitat to counteract financial exclusion among residents of the Valencian Community.
The Finance Minister introduced the iai@ connectat program, which provides digital skills training for people aged 65 and older. The program offers one-to-one, free, hands-on workshops where participants receive practical guidance to perform banking and online management tasks securely while navigating the internet, enabling them to participate fully in the benefits of the digital age. [Citation: European Commission]
The initiatives began in 2022 as a pilot in Bejís, Orihuela, Burjassot, and Carcaixent. In 2023, the Generalitat allocated more than 100,000 euros to run over 200 courses, extending digital counseling to older residents across the 542 municipalities of the Valencian Community.
These sessions provide practical advice on cybersecurity, banking practices, and the use of the GVA+Salut app, along with best practices to prevent online fraud and protect personal information. [Citation: Regional Administration]