# CaixaBank + imagin

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/caixabank
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [CaixaBank — official](https://www.caixabank.es/)

## Overview

**CaixaBank** is **one of Spain's Big-3 banks** + **operates imagin, Spain's first mobile-only bank for millennials** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Spain report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ES)</sup>. **2025 baseline**: **12.66M CaixaBank group digital users + imagin 4M users + 41% penetration rate among 16-34 year financial customers** + **+30% digital sign-ups growth + +23% digital sales growth + 390K net customers FY25 + 4.9/5 Google Play (highest user rating of any banking entity app)**.

**Distinctive CaixaBank positioning** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>:
- **Spain Big-3 bank**
- **12.66M CaixaBank group digital users**
- **imagin**: 4M users + 41% penetration rate among 16-34 year financial customers — distinctive Spanish neobank for millennials/young people
- **CaixaBank mobile app**: 4.9/5 Google Play (highest user rating of any banking entity app)
- **+30% digital sign-ups growth + +23% digital sales growth** in 2025
- **390K net customers** gained in FY25
- **Strong digital products portfolio**: Cards + consumer loans + savings + investment + insurance
- **CaixaBank-imagin Cashback program**: Pioneering app-based cashback program reimbursing customers part of money spent on purchases

## History

**1904 — Caja de Pensiones para la Vejez y de Ahorros founded** in Barcelona — distinctive Spanish savings-bank heritage (La Caixa de Pensions later renamed La Caixa).

**1990 — Caixa de Barcelona + Caja de Pensiones merger** to form La Caixa.

**2011 — CaixaBank S.A. created** as commercial banking spinoff of La Caixa Group + IPO on BME (BME: CABK).

**2016 — imagin (formerly imaginBank) launches** as Spain's first mobile-only bank for millennials.

**2017 — CaixaBank acquires BPI (Banco BPI; Portugal)** — distinctive Iberian banking consolidation.

**March 2021 — CaixaBank + Bankia merger closes** — distinctive Spanish mega-bank consolidation creating Spain's largest bank by Spanish customers.

**2022 — imagin relaunched as digital services + lifestyle platform** for 2.6M young people <sup>[2][2]</sup>.

**2025 — CaixaBank 12.66M group digital users + imagin 4M users + 41% penetration + 30% digital sign-ups growth + 23% digital sales growth + 4.9/5 Google Play** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **CaixaBank S.A.** (BME: CABK).

**Major shareholders**: **Fundación Bancaria La Caixa (Caixa Foundation; controlling shareholder ~30%) + FROB (Spanish state via Bank of Spain post-Bankia merger ~17%) + BlackRock + Vanguard + various Spanish institutional + BME public float**.

**Regulators**: **BdE (Banco de España)** + **CNMV (Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores)** + **ECB**.

## Technical integration

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channels** | CaixaBank app (iOS + Android; primary ES retail-banking mobile channel; 4.9/5 Google Play) + imagin app (iOS + Android; Spain's first mobile-only bank for millennials since 2016; 4M users) + CaixaBank Now Online + CaixaBank cards (Visa + Mastercard) + CaixaBank branch network (largest Spanish branch network) |
| **Identifiers** | Phone + email + card number + DNI |
| **ES rails** | **[Bizum](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bizum) + SEPA Instant Credit Transfer** (Spanish national P2P payment + EU SEPA Instant) |
| **License** | Bank (CaixaBank full Spanish banking license; Spain Big-3 bank + Portuguese BPI subsidiary) |
| **Sub-products** | CaixaBank Account + CaixaBank Cards + CaixaBank Crédito + CaixaBank Mortgages + CaixaBank Investments + CaixaBank Insurance + CaixaBank for Business + CaixaBank Private + imagin (mobile-only bank for millennials/young people) + imaginCashback + Banco BPI (Portuguese subsidiary post-2017 acquisition) + CaixaBank Asset Management + VidaCaixa (life insurance subsidiary) + SegurCaixa Adeslas (insurance JV) + CaixaBank Tech |
| **Distinctive 4.9/5 Google Play**: Highest user rating of any banking entity app |
| **Distinctive imagin Cashback program**: Pioneering app-based cashback program (CaixaBank + imagin) |

## Users & growth

**2025 baseline** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>:
- **12.66M CaixaBank group digital users**
- **imagin 4M users + 41% penetration rate among 16-34 year financial customers**
- **+30% digital sign-ups growth + +23% digital sales growth** in 2025
- **390K net customers** gained in FY25
- **CaixaBank mobile app 4.9/5 Google Play** (highest user rating of any banking entity app)
- **Spain Big-3 bank**

## Use cases

Spanish + Portuguese (Banco BPI) retail + corporate + investment + insurance + private banking via CaixaBank app + imagin app (Spain's first mobile-only bank for millennials; 4M users) + CaixaBank Now Online + cards + branches (largest Spanish branch network); Bizum P2P + SEPA Instant Spanish rails; imaginCashback pioneering app-based cashback program; VidaCaixa life insurance + SegurCaixa Adeslas insurance JV; Banco BPI Portuguese subsidiary.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **CaixaBank S.A.** (BME: CABK).

**Major shareholders**: **Fundación Bancaria La Caixa (Caixa Foundation; controlling shareholder ~30%) + FROB (Spanish state via Bank of Spain post-Bankia merger ~17%) + BlackRock + Vanguard + Spanish institutional + BME public float**.

**Major Spanish banking competitors**:
- **[Banco Santander (Spain parent)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/santander-spain)** (Banco Santander; Spain #1 bank by total assets €836.78B; Europe's 4th largest by assets $2.251T global; ~165M global customers across 30+ countries)
- **[BBVA Spain App](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bbva-spain)** (BBVA Group; Spain #2 bank by assets; 70M+ global clients; 27+ countries; Oct 2 2025 first major Spanish bank with 24/7 Bitcoin trading)
- **[Banco Sabadell](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/banco-sabadell)** (Banco Sabadell; Spain Big-5 bank; BBVA acquisition in progress 2025)
- **Bankinter** + **Unicaja Banco** + **Ibercaja Banco** + **Abanca** + **Kutxabank** (Spanish banking competitors)
- **[bunq](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bunq)** (EU #2 neobank)
- **[Revolut](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/revolut)** + **N26 Spain** + **Openbank** (Santander digital subsidiary) (Spanish digital banking competitors)

**CaixaBank subsidiaries**: **imagin (mobile-only bank for millennials)** + **Banco BPI (Portuguese; post-2017 acquisition)** + **VidaCaixa (life insurance)** + **SegurCaixa Adeslas (insurance JV)** + **CaixaBank Asset Management** + **CaixaBank Tech**.

**Regulators**: **BdE + CNMV + ECB**.

## Fun facts

- **One of Spain's Big-3 banks**.
- **12.66M CaixaBank group digital users**.
- **imagin 4M users + 41% penetration rate among 16-34 year financial customers** — distinctive Spanish neobank for millennials/young people.
- **CaixaBank mobile app 4.9/5 Google Play** (highest user rating of any banking entity app).
- **1904 founding as Caja de Pensiones para la Vejez y de Ahorros** in Barcelona — distinctive Spanish savings-bank heritage.
- **2011 CaixaBank S.A. created** as commercial banking spinoff of La Caixa Group.
- **March 2021 CaixaBank + Bankia merger closes** — distinctive Spanish mega-bank consolidation creating Spain's largest bank by Spanish customers.
- **2016 imagin launches** as Spain's first mobile-only bank for millennials; **2022 imagin relaunched** as digital services + lifestyle platform for 2.6M young people.
- **+30% digital sign-ups growth + +23% digital sales growth + 390K net customers** in FY25.
- **CaixaBank-imagin Cashback program**: Pioneering app-based cashback program.
- **Fundación Bancaria La Caixa (Caixa Foundation) controlling shareholder ~30%**.
- **FROB (Spanish state via Bank of Spain post-Bankia merger) ~17%**.
- **Banco BPI (Portuguese subsidiary)** post-2017 acquisition.

## Comparison

| Feature | CaixaBank + imagin | [Banco Santander (Spain parent)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/santander-spain) (Spain #1 bank by total assets rival; ~165M global customers across 30+ countries) | [BBVA Spain App](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bbva-spain) (Spain #2 bank by assets rival; 70M+ global clients; 27+ countries) | [Banco Sabadell](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/banco-sabadell) (Spain Big-5 bank rival; BBVA acquisition in progress 2025) | [Intesa Sanpaolo + isybank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/intesa-isybank) (Italy's largest bank + isybank under-30/35 digital comparable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **CaixaBank S.A. (BME: CABK; Fundación Bancaria La Caixa Caixa Foundation controlling ~30% + FROB Spanish state via Bank of Spain post-Bankia merger ~17% + BlackRock + Vanguard + Spanish institutional + BME public float)** | Banco Santander S.A. (BME: SAN; NYSE: SAN; widely held: BlackRock + Vanguard + Capital Group + State Street + Norges Bank + institutional + BME + NYSE floats) | BBVA (BME: BBVA; NYSE: BBVA; widely held) | Banco de Sabadell S.A. (BME: SAB; BBVA acquisition Sep-Oct 2025) | Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. (Borsa Italiana: ISP; widely held + Italian banking foundations) |
| Type | **Spain Big-3 bank + 12.66M digital users + imagin Spain's first mobile-only bank for millennials (4M users + 41% penetration 16-34 year financial customers) + 4.9/5 Google Play (highest user rating of any banking entity app) + Banco BPI Portuguese subsidiary + Bankia 2021 merger** | Spain #1 bank by total assets + Europe's 4th largest bank + world's 16th-largest banking institution + 30+ countries multi-country mega-franchise + Openbank digital subsidiary + PagoNxt payment tech platform | Spain #2 bank + 27+ countries + Oct 2 2025 24/7 Bitcoin trading + 70M+ clients worldwide + $900B+ AUM | Spain Big-5 bank + BBVA acquisition Sep-Oct 2025 (take-up periods) | Italy's largest bank by total assets + world's 38th largest + 21.5M customers + isybank digital bank for under-30/35 (1M+ customers; iOS App Store #1) |
| Country | ES + PT | ES + 30+ other countries | ES + 26+ countries | ES primary | IT + 25+ other countries |
| Users | **12.66M CaixaBank group digital users; imagin 4M users + 41% penetration 16-34; +30% digital sign-ups + +23% digital sales growth FY25; 390K net customers FY25; 4.9/5 Google Play** | ~165M global customers; €836.78B Spanish total assets (28.55% market share); $2.251T global assets | ~70M clients worldwide; $900B+ AUM | BBVA acquisition target | ~14M IT + 7.5M CSEE/MENA (21.5M total); isybank 1M+ customers (70%+ under-30 + 75% under-35) |
| Distinctive | **1904 Caja de Pensiones para la Vejez y de Ahorros founding in Barcelona (Spanish savings-bank heritage); 2011 CaixaBank S.A. spinoff + IPO; Mar 2021 CaixaBank + Bankia merger (distinctive Spanish mega-bank consolidation creating Spain's largest by Spanish customers); 2016 imagin Spain's first mobile-only bank for millennials launch; 2022 imagin relaunched as digital services + lifestyle platform; CaixaBank-imagin Cashback pioneering app-based cashback program; Fundación Bancaria La Caixa Caixa Foundation controlling shareholder ~30%; FROB Spanish state post-Bankia ~17%; Banco BPI Portuguese subsidiary post-2017 acquisition; VidaCaixa life insurance subsidiary** | 1857 Banco de Santander founding; 1999 Santander + Banco Central Hispano merger to BSCH; 2007 rebranded to Banco Santander; 2007 ABN AMRO acquisition with consortium; 2008 Sovereign Bancorp US acquisition; Openbank digital subsidiary; PagoNxt payment tech platform | 1857 Banco de Bilbao; Oct 2 2025 first major Spanish bank with 24/7 Bitcoin + Ether trading; BBVA Mexico is parent's largest LatAm subsidiary | BBVA acquisition Sep-Oct 2025 (1 newly issued BBVA share + €0.70 cash; 10% offer increase + enhanced tax treatment); Sep 5 2025 EU greenlight | 2007 Banca Intesa + Sanpaolo IMI merger; Italy's largest bank by total assets + world's 38th largest; Jun 2023 isybank launch; isybank Italy's most-downloaded app on Apple devices (early Oct 2024) |

## Status

**Active, one of Spain's Big-3 banks + Spain's largest bank by Spanish customers post-2021 Bankia merger** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>:
- **CaixaBank S.A.** (BME: CABK) since 1904 (Caja de Pensiones para la Vejez y de Ahorros founding in Barcelona); 2011 CaixaBank S.A. spinoff + IPO; March 2021 CaixaBank + Bankia merger; 2017 BPI (Portugal) acquisition.
- **12.66M CaixaBank group digital users** + **imagin 4M users + 41% penetration rate among 16-34 year financial customers**.
- **+30% digital sign-ups growth + +23% digital sales growth + 390K net customers** in FY25.
- **CaixaBank mobile app 4.9/5 Google Play** (highest user rating of any banking entity app).
- **CaixaBank-imagin Cashback** pioneering app-based cashback program.
- **Banco BPI (Portuguese subsidiary)** + **VidaCaixa + SegurCaixa Adeslas + CaixaBank Asset Management + CaixaBank Tech**.
- **Fundación Bancaria La Caixa (Caixa Foundation) controlling shareholder ~30% + FROB Spanish state ~17%**.
- **BdE + CNMV + ECB regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.caixabank.com/es/actualidad/noticias/caixabank-impulsa-un-30-las-altas-digitales-y-un-23-las-ventas-digitales-gracias-a-la-nueva-app-y-a-imagin "CaixaBank impulsa un 30% las altas digitales y un 23% las ventas digitales — CaixaBank"
[2]: https://www.caixabank.com/en/headlines/news/caixabank-relaunches-imagin-as-a-digital-services-and-lifestyle-platform-for-2-6-million-young-people "CaixaBank relaunches imagin as a digital services and lifestyle platform for 2.6M young people — CaixaBank"
[3]: https://www.caixabank.com/deployedfiles/caixabank_com/Estaticos/PDFs/Accionistasinversores/202512_Analyst_Day.pdf "1 Digital Strategy and Innovation Dec 2 2025 — CaixaBank Analyst Day"
[4]: https://www.caixabank.es/particular/imagin_en.html "Your 100% digital banking imagin — CaixaBank"
[es-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ES

- [1] [CaixaBank impulsa un 30% las altas digitales y un 23% las ventas digitales — CaixaBank][1]
- [2] [CaixaBank relaunches imagin as a digital services and lifestyle platform for 2.6M young people — CaixaBank][2]
- [3] [1 Digital Strategy and Innovation Dec 2 2025 — CaixaBank Analyst Day][3]
- [4] [Your 100% digital banking imagin — CaixaBank][4]
- <sup>[Spain report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ES)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/ES-spain.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [caixabank.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/caixabank). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.