– The day highlights the role of microcredits as a tool for social and financial inclusion.
– With a loan portfolio of 2.136 billion euros, Spain leads Europe in the penetration of microcredits.
22 May 2025
Barcelona has emerged as the European capital of microfinance with the celebration of the closing ceremony of the European Microfinance Day. The event was organized by the European Microfinance Network, based in Brussels, which promotes microfinance as a means to combat social and financial exclusion, in collaboration with MicroBank and Fundació Autoocupació.
Under the theme “Changing the Narrative: Supporting Local Communities to Generate a Global Impact,” the event addressed the key challenges, opportunities, and perspectives of the microfinance sector in front of an audience of about one hundred attendees. During the discussions, important data illustrating the significance of microfinance in Europe was presented, including a total loan portfolio of 5.273 billion euros in 2022, according to a report by the MNE. Specifically, in Spain, the loan portfolio amounts to 2.136 billion euros, making it the European country with the highest microcredit penetration. In Spain, MicroBank holds an impressive market share of 88.6%.
Throughout the event, the role of microcredits in supporting entrepreneurship and job creation was examined in detail. Cristina González, the general manager of MicroBank, emphasized that 23,253 business ideas were launched in Spain last year, thanks to microcredits from MicroBank. In total, in 2024, CaixaBank’s social bank allocated 317.3 million euros in loans for the start-up or consolidation of businesses, reflecting a 25.2% increase compared to previous years.
Georgios Papadakis, managing director of the European Microfinance Network (EMN), focused on the social impact generated by microfinance, noting that its scope extends beyond financial services alone.
Guillem Aris, director of the Fundació Autoocupació, echoed this sentiment by identifying microcredits as a crucial tool for empowering self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs, and microenterprises. Autoocupació is one of MicroBank’s partner organizations that assists aspiring business owners in evaluating their business ideas, developing viable business plans, setting up their ventures, and acquiring the skills needed to manage and grow their businesses successfully.
The event also featured the stories of two entrepreneurs who, with the support of MicroBank funding and the collaboration of Autoocupació and Barcelona Activa, successfully boosted their businesses.
Sustainable Banking by Microbank
MicroBank addresses the financial needs of various population segments that are not adequately served. It plays a vital role in the Sustainability Plan, part of CaixaBank’s Strategic Plan, which aims to promote financial inclusion and facilitate access to credit for vulnerable groups, while also enhancing its commitment to the socio-economic development of local communities.
As the sole shareholder of MicroBank, CaixaBank has continuously supported its social bank since its inception, providing the necessary financing to expand its lending activities and marketing its products through CaixaBank’s extensive commercial network. This approach ensures that customers receive a comprehensive range of options with the highest quality of service.
In granting microcredits, the bank collaborates with around 270 entities across Spain that provide insight into the borrowers’ backgrounds and offer advice and monitoring for their projects.
MicroBank also enjoys the backing of key European institutions dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and microfinance, including the European Investment Fund (EIF), the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
