Caixa de Pontevedra
A provincial Spanish savings bank based in Pontevedra that operated from 1930 until its merger into Caixanova in 2000.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Caixa de Pontevedra, formally the Caixa de Aforros Provincial de Pontevedra, was a Spanish savings bank headquartered in the city of Pontevedra and dependent on the Provincial Council of Pontevedra. It was founded on 12 January 1930 and began operations on 20 January of the same year. Unlike a modern commercial bank operating under a national corporate group, it was a provincial savings institution whose activities combined ordinary banking with a substantial local-development and social role. The institution's first president was Daniel de la Sota, while Alexandre Bóveda served as its first director. Political and administrative changes soon affected its leadership. After de la Sota was removed as president of the provincial deputation, the military officer Manuel Casas Medrano assumed the presidency, and Bóveda resigned. During the Second Spanish Republic, the bank began extending its branch network into towns in the northern part of Pontevedra province. A personnel purge took place at the beginning of 1938 under provisions issued by the National Defence Council, reflecting the political upheaval of the Spanish Civil War period. The post-war decades brought wider expansion. Spanish savings banks benefited from legislative and institutional changes between 1940 and 1960, and Caixa de Pontevedra opened branches in places including Ponte Caldelas, Tomiño and Caldas de Reis. Its expansion occasionally brought it into conflict with the Municipal Savings Bank of Vigo over the use of commercial locations, with the Ministry of Labour intervening in the dispute. The bank also consolidated a significant architectural presence in Pontevedra. It acquired a building under construction in Campolongo in 1944; the premises, designed initially by Emilio Quiroga Losada, were inaugurated in 1949 and enlarged during the 1950s. Further construction between 1971 and 1973 added an auditorium and offices, some of which temporarily accommodated teaching activities associated with the National University of Distance Education. Caixa de Pontevedra's role extended beyond deposits and lending. It helped finance public infrastructure in Pontevedra, including the Estadio de la Juventud, now associated with the Galician Sports Technification Centre, and Pasarón Stadium. It also supported the construction of social housing and built the Virgin Pilgrim Student Residence in 1965. Its social and cultural activities included sponsorship of local sports organizations such as Pontevedra CF and SD Teucro. In 1980 it established the Julio Camba journalism prize. From the late 1970s, the bank participated in discussions about creating a larger Galician savings institution. Talks with Caixa Galicia did not produce a merger, partly because of opposition from the Vigo savings bank. Caixa de Pontevedra instead pursued its own expansion during the 1980s, opening offices in other Galician cities and Madrid. Cooperation with the savings banks of Ourense and Vigo intensified during the 1990s. These efforts culminated in 2000 in the merger that created Caixanova, with Caixa de Pontevedra receiving a 24 percent share of the resulting savings bank. Caixanova later merged with Caixa Galicia in 2010, contributing to the formation of the banking group that became Abanca. Caixa de Pontevedra therefore ceased to exist as an independent institution in 2000. The former institution's legacy continued through its headquarters and social-work infrastructure. The historic building was extensively renovated by architect César Portela and reopened on 15 July 2006 as a social and cultural centre. It was renamed Centro Social y Cultural Afundación in 2010. Although the banking brand is defunct, the property and cultural programme preserve part of the institution's civic presence in Pontevedra.
History
Caixa de Pontevedra was created in Pontevedra on 12 January 1930 as the province's savings institution, operating under the Provincial Council of Pontevedra. It commenced activity eight days later. Daniel de la Sota became its first president and Alexandre Bóveda its first director. A change in the leadership of the provincial deputation led to de la Sota's dismissal, the appointment of Manuel Casas Medrano and Bóveda's resignation. The bank began developing a branch presence in northern Pontevedra province during the Second Spanish Republic. The political conflict surrounding the Spanish Civil War also affected the institution: at the beginning of 1938, personnel were purged under measures associated with the National Defence Council. In the following decades, Caixa de Pontevedra formed part of the broader expansion of Spanish savings banks. It opened branches in Ponte Caldelas, Tomiño and Caldas de Reis, while a dispute with the Municipal Savings Bank of Vigo over premises required intervention by the Ministry of Labour. Its institutional headquarters developed in stages. The bank acquired a building under construction in Campolongo in 1944. Designed initially by Emilio Quiroga Losada, the building was inaugurated in 1949 and expanded during the 1950s by Robustiano Fernández Cochón. A later construction phase from 1971 to 1973, associated with Joaquín Basilio Bas, added offices and an auditorium. The building also temporarily accommodated classrooms linked to the National University of Distance Education. The institution's activities reflected the traditional social mandate of Spanish savings banks. It financed public works such as the Estadio de la Juventud and Pasarón Stadium, supported social housing and constructed the Virgin Pilgrim Student Residence in 1965. It sponsored local sports teams, including Pontevedra CF and SD Teucro, and created the Julio Camba journalism prize in 1980. These activities made the bank a visible civic institution as well as a provider of savings and credit. Starting in 1977, Caixa de Pontevedra took part in conversations concerning the creation of a large Galician savings bank. Discussions with Caixa Galicia did not result in a transaction, in part because the Vigo savings bank declined to join the proposed project. During the 1980s, Caixa de Pontevedra expanded independently, opening branches elsewhere in Galicia and in Madrid. Cooperation with the savings banks of Ourense and Vigo increased during the 1990s, eventually producing the 2000 merger that created Caixanova. Caixa de Pontevedra held 24 percent of the new institution and disappeared as a separate bank. Caixanova subsequently merged with Caixa Galicia in 2010, and the resulting process eventually led to Abanca. The former Caixa de Pontevedra headquarters was renovated by César Portela between the end of the bank's independent existence and its later cultural use. It reopened on 15 July 2006 as a large social and cultural centre, retaining historic stone façades while adding modern architectural elements, an auditorium and exhibition spaces. In 2010 it became Centro Social y Cultural Afundación, preserving the site's public and cultural function after the banking brand had ended.
- 2010
Cultural centre renamed Afundación
[1]The former savings-bank cultural centre adopted the name Centro Social y Cultural Afundación.
- 2006
Former headquarters becomes cultural centre
[1]A renovated version of the former headquarters opened as a social and cultural centre.
- 2000
Merger into Caixanova
[1]The bank merged with the savings banks of Ourense and Vigo to form Caixanova and ceased to operate independently.
- 1980
Julio Camba journalism prize created
[1]Caixa de Pontevedra established the Julio Camba journalism prize.
- 1977
Galician consolidation discussions begin
[1]The bank entered discussions about creating a larger Galician savings institution.
- 1965
Virgin Pilgrim Student Residence built
[1]The bank built a student residence intended to support local educational and social needs.
- 1949
Headquarters inaugurated
[1]The first stage of the headquarters building was completed and inaugurated.
- 1944
Headquarters acquired
[1]The institution acquired a building under construction in Campolongo for use as its headquarters.
- 1938
Personnel purge
[1]A purge of employees was carried out under provisions issued by the National Defence Council.
- 1930
Foundation and launch
[1]Caixa de Pontevedra was founded on 12 January and began operations on 20 January in Pontevedra.
Products and positioning
A publicly connected provincial savings bank focused on household savings, local lending, regional development and community-oriented social work in Pontevedra and Galicia.
Retail banking
Savings and deposit accounts
As a provincial savings bank, Caixa de Pontevedra's core business included attracting household and institutional savings through deposit products. The available reference material does not identify specific account names, rates or product terms.
Lending
Loans and local credit
The institution provided lending as part of its ordinary banking role and helped finance public works, social housing and other local development projects. Detailed loan products and underwriting terms are not identified in the supplied sources.
Community investment
Social and cultural work
Caixa de Pontevedra directed resources toward public infrastructure, student accommodation, sports sponsorship and journalism. This social-work function was a prominent part of the institution's local identity, although it was not a conventional banking product.
Marketing campaigns
- 1980Julio Camba journalism prize
Spain · Galicia
The savings bank created a journalism prize named after Julio Camba, extending its cultural and civic activity beyond financial services.
Outcome. The prize became part of the institution's cultural legacy; the supplied material does not provide further details about its later editions.
Brand decisions
2000
Merger creating CaixanovaM&ABackground
Cooperation among Caixa de Pontevedra and the savings banks of Ourense and Vigo developed into a formal consolidation.
Action taken
Caixa de Pontevedra merged into the newly created Caixanova and held 24 percent of the resulting savings bank.
Aftermath
The independent Caixa de Pontevedra brand and institution ended. Caixanova later merged with Caixa Galicia in 2010, in a process that ultimately led to Abanca.
Share of Caixanova. 24% (2000 merger)
1980
Independent regional expansionStrategyBackground
After discussions about a wider Galician savings-bank combination failed to produce a merger, Caixa de Pontevedra pursued its own growth.
Action taken
The bank opened branches in other Galician cities and in Madrid during the 1980s.
Aftermath
The expansion preceded closer cooperation with the savings banks of Ourense and Vigo during the 1990s.
Sources1 sources
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