Reflections on the IESE Banking Seminar

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Banking Seminar organized by IESE, an intense and truly insightful event. The conference brought together thought leaders from across the banking sector and offered a deep dive into some of the most pressing issues shaping the industry today. We explored how geopolitics is influencing the global financial landscape and what that means for the future of banking. Another key highlight was a forward-looking discussion on the Digital Euro, its potential impact on European economies, and the accompanying cybersecurity risks. The consensus was clear: every company must have a robust action protocol in place to address these growing digital threats.

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What made the seminar especially valuable was the impressive lineup of speakers, including the CEOs of nearly all major Spanish banks, each bringing a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead. Peio Belaustegui, CEO of BBVA Spain, opened a compelling conversation on what the future of banking demands in terms of innovation and adaptability. Francisco José Serrano, Chairman of Ibercaja, and José Sevilla, Chairman of Unicaja, emphasized the critical role of proximity banking in driving regional development.

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Alfonso Tolcheff, CEO of ING, highlighted the importance of digital leadership and shared ING’s flexible approach to putting the customer first, followed by the team, and then individual team members, to ensure personal needs are met without compromising service excellence.

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Gonzalo Gortázar, CEO of CaixaBank, made a strong case for the creation of a single European financial market and the development of a comprehensive payment ecosystem to serve both retail and wholesale sectors. Petri Nikkilä, CEO of Openbank, spoke about their bold international expansion plans, while Gloria Ortiz, CEO of Bankinter, stressed the importance of achieving growth that is both sustainable and profitable.

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César González-Bueno, CEO of Banco Sabadell, focused on the crucial role of mid-sized banks in serving regional markets, and raised the possibility of future consolidation among smaller institutions.

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Across the board, there was a shared emphasis on the need for a strong and stable regulatory framework, a cornerstone for enabling long-term investment, innovation, and resilience. Speakers also underscored several key priorities for the industry moving forward: delivering a differentiated value proposition, placing customer convenience at the center, leveraging AI for deeper customer insight and hyper-personalized services, and simplifying processes to improve efficiency.

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Finally, the seminar also touched on the evolving role of bank branches. While digitalization continues to transform the customer experience, physical offices remain important and must adapt to meet new expectations.

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Overall, the seminar was a powerful reminder of how dynamic and fast-evolving the banking sector is, and of the collective responsibility we share to lead with

vision, integrity, and innovation.

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