CaixaBank says that the conflict between great powers is "the biggest threat to global stability"

ValenciaThe confrontation between major powers is the "greatest threat to global stability". This was denounced this Friday by the president of CaixaBank, Tomàs Muniesa, during the company's general shareholders' meeting held in Valencia. The executive has held the foreign policy of the United States primarily responsible for this situation, accusing it of "generating uncertainty". According to Muniesa, geopolitics has become the primary threat to the global economy in the short term, while climate change is the threat in the medium term.

The company fears that the dark clouds coming from the Middle East could increase inflation and financial market volatility, reduce trade, and affect supply chains. In summary, it weakens an economic moment from which the bank continues to benefit with the achievement in 2025 of a net profit of 5,891 million euros, 1.8% more than in 2024, but in which the discontent of a staff that is on strike this Friday also increases to denounce a labor climate "unbearable due to excessive demands".

Less threatening than global instability, but also worrying for Muniesa, are the weaknesses of a European economy that he has complained is "over-regulated" and excessively fragmented. Regarding the State's Achilles' heels, he has highlighted the aging of the population –which has the longest life expectancy in Europe–, whose pensions will generate "debt of 181% of GDP by 2070". He also pointed out "the shortage of 700,000 homes", when "at most 150,000" are built per year. Regarding solutions, the president of CaixaBank has suggested the arrival of foreigners to meet labor demand.

Dividend increase

Much more stable than the global economy are the results of the bank of Catalan origin, which this Friday approved a distribution of the complementary dividend of 2,320 million euros, equivalent to 33.21 gross cents per share. This second payment raises the cash remuneration to the shareholder for the 2025 financial year to 0.50 gross euros per share. This represents an increase in the dividend of 15%, compared to the 0.4352 gross euros per share of the previous financial year. In this way, the amount allocated to dividends from the 2025 results rises to 3,499 million euros.

The entity maintains the objectives revised upwards this year for the 2025-2027 period, observing a more favorable "background sea" than anticipated, despite the "uncertainty" generated by the conflict in the Middle East. The bank has raised the average annual growth target from 4% to 6% during the term of the strategic plan, while the non-performing loan ratio will be reduced to 1.75%, instead of the initial 2%, and the return on tangible equity will exceed 18%, compared to the 15% planned in the original plan.

Workers' protests

One more year, the review of CaixaBank's green numbers has coincided with the workers' protest, which this year has escalated with two partial stoppages and a strike this Friday. Employees have gathered at the entrance of the Palau de Congressos de València – where the shareholders' meeting has been held – to denounce a "commercial pressure" that aims to increase business by 40% to 50% and generates "unachievable" demands on staff and a "toxic" labor situation.

From the CaixaBank Employees' Union, the majority with 42% representation, co-spokesperson Xavi Vidal has denounced to ARA that from the company they only receive "good words", but "zero commitments". Antoni Cano, general secretary of the Federation of Savings of Catalonia, agrees, detailing that after the strike they expect "important movements" from the company. Eva Díaz, from the Independent Union of Balearic Islands, also claims them, having advanced that if the company does not make a move, the mobilization will continue. A negotiation that is not expected to be easy, given the words of Tomàs Muniesa, who has defended that "working at CaixaBank means facing a challenging, but manageable, work environment".