Bankinter
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial services |
| Predecessor | Banco Intercontinental Español |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | Banco Santander and Bank of America (partnership) |
| Headquarters | Madrid , Spain |
Area served | Spain, Portugal, Ireland |
| Products | Banking, insurance, pensions, consumer finance |
Number of employees | 6,119 (2021) |
| Website | www |
Bankinter, S.A. () is a Madrid-based Spanish financial institution. It has been traded on the Bolsa de Madrid since 1972 and is included in the Ibex35 Index. Originally established in 1965 as Banco Intercontinental Español through a partnership between Banco Santander and Bank of America, Bankinter gained full independence in 1972 and shifted its focus to commercial banking.
Since 2014, Bankinter has been classified as a Significant Institution under the European Banking Supervision framework, placing it under the direct oversight of the European Central Bank.
History
Initially founded as an industrial bank in 1965, Bankinter transitioned into a commercial banking entity by 1972. In 1993, the bank introduced Banca Partnet and Red Agencial to support its expansion efforts and became Spain’s pioneer digital banking institution. The brand experienced a comprehensive revamp in 2006.
In 2009, Bankinter acquired a 50% stake in the insurance firm Direct Line from The Royal Bank of Scotland. The bank further extended its presence into Portugal in 2015 by purchasing Barclays’ retail operations along with Barclays Life and Pensions (the latter acquisition was made jointly with Mapfre) for an estimated €137.5 million.
The acquisition of EVO Banco in 2019 brought an additional 452,000 clients to Bankinter’s portfolio. In Ireland, it conducts business under the Avant Money brand, formerly known as MBNA Ireland.
Bankinter’s holding in Línea Directa was reduced to 17.4% following its April 2021 initial public offering, which yielded close to €1 billion in capital gains.
In August 2023, the European Commission gave approval for the joint acquisition of Portuguese payment services provider Universo IME by Bankinter Consumer Finance and Sonae.
Office network
By September 30, 2021, Bankinter maintained a network of 446 branches staffed by 6,119 employees.