CECA Recognizes the Best Social Work and Financial Education Initiatives at Its 2025 Awards

In the XX edition of the awards, 25 initiatives that stand out for their social impact, transformative capacity, contribution to well-being, and improvement of financial culture in society have been awarded.

During the opening of the event, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Spain emphasized that “financial education and the social work of financial entities are two fundamental levers for the progress and well-being of our society”.

For the third consecutive year, CECA, along with the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI), has awarded the honorary prize for international social trajectory, which this edition has gone to Caja Huancayo (Peru).

Since 2014, entities and foundations associated with CECA have invested more than 8.7 billion euros in Social Work initiatives, leading private social investment in Spain.

CECA announced this Wednesday the awarded initiatives at the XX edition of the CECA Awards for Social Work and Financial Education. This meeting values the work carried out by the entities and foundations associated with CECA in favor of social development and the improvement of financial culture in Spain.

This edition featured a total of 74 projects, of which 53 pertain to the area of Social Work and 21 to Financial Education, with the participation of 25 entities and foundations associated with CECA. In total, 22 initiatives were recognized, along with three special jury awards, which stand out for their social impact, transformative capacity, and contribution to the well-being of society.

The CECA Awards for Social Work and Financial Education aim to recognize and disseminate projects that generate a positive and measurable impact on the communities in which they are developed, especially in areas such as social inclusion, education, research, employment, sustainability, and promoting financially responsible citizenship.

The opening of the event was led by Soledad Núñez, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Spain, who emphasized that “financial education and the social work of financial entities are two fundamental levers for the progress and well-being of our society.”

“Both contribute, from different areas, to creating a more informed, responsible, and supportive citizenry. That’s why we are celebrating today the commitment of those who work every day to improve the lives of others, and we renew our support for their work to continue growing and multiplying its impact,” she added.

In the words of Antonio Romero, General Director of CECA, “foundations are much more than philanthropic entities: they are engines of progress, capable of generating real and lasting impact. Their strength lies in collaboration, innovation, and the ability to keep their social commitment alive in a constantly changing world.”

The event was closed by Rafael Barbero, President of the Executive Committee of Social Work and Foundations and Director of the Caja de Burgos Foundation, and Nacho Cardero, Director of El Confidencial.

The jury consisted of representatives from public institutions, regulatory bodies, third-sector entities, experts in social impact, culture, research, and communication, ensuring a plural and specialized view in the evaluation of the presented projects.

 

AWARDED INITIATIVES

Social Work Area

Social Programs

1st. Fundación Caja de Burgos, for the project Mental Health. Let’s Talk Clearly and Knowledgeably.

2nd. Fundación Círculo Burgos, for the project Lunch Scholarships.

 

Culture and Heritage

1st. Fundación Caja Extremadura, for the project Singular is Plural. X Anniversary of Open Work.

2nd. Fundación Caja de Burgos, for the project Session B.

 

Sports

1st. Fundación CajaCanarias, for XIII Campus of Canarian Wrestling Fundación CajaCanarias.

2nd. Edufinet Project (Fundación Bancaria Unicaja and Unicaja), for the Financial Education Cycle for Sports.

 

Local Development, Entrepreneurship and Employment

1st. Fundación Ávila, for the project Shepherds School.

2nd. Fundación Caja Extremadura, for the project Talaya. Young Referents.

 

Education

1st. Fundación Vital Fundazioa, for Bideak ehuntzen, a project against school bullying.

2nd. Fundación CajaCanarias, for the project Island Memory.

 

Research

1st. Fundación Unicaja, for the project CITAC (Center for Cancer Research and Advanced Therapies).

2nd. Fundación Caja Navarra, for the project New Longevity and Intergenerational Future.

 

Environment

1st. Fundación Cajasol, for the project Environmental Action in the Dehesa.

2nd. Fundación Caja de Burgos, for the project Green Homes.

 

Special Jury Award in Social Work

Fundación “la Caixa” for its Action Plan to Assist Individuals Affected by Flash Floods (DANA).

 

Financial Education Area

Children and Youth (0-25 years)

1st. Fundación Ibercaja, for the Educational Programs on Financial Education for Schoolchildren.

2nd. Edufinet Project (Fundación Bancaria Unicaja and Unicaja), for the Financial Education Hackathon.

 

Adults (26-65 years)

1st. Afundación, Obra Social ABANCA, for the project Ítaca: a Journey through Financial Education.

2nd. CaixaBank, for the Extra Time Financial Education Program.

 

Individuals Over 65 Years

1st. Fundación Ibercaja, for the project Active Transition.

2nd. Fundación Ávila, for the project Get Active in 3.0.

 

Entrepreneurs

1st. Fundación Ibercaja, for the project of Financial Education for SMEs and Entrepreneurs.

2nd. Fundación Canaria La Caja Insular de Ahorros de Canarias, for the Experimental Employment Itinerary Project.

 

Special Jury Award in Financial Education

Colonya Caixa d’Estalvis de Pollença, for its Intergenerational Economic Education Workshops.

 

Recognition for International Trajectory

CECA maintains a solid and active presence in the international arena through its participation in major forums that represent the model of responsibly retail banking. It is also a member of the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) and the European Savings and Retail Banking Group (ESBG), organizations that group financial entities worldwide and advocate for a banking model based on financing families and SMEs, territorial commitment, and a focus on sustainability and financial inclusion.

In line with its mission to highlight social initiatives of banking on a global scale, for the third consecutive year, the CECA association has presented an honorary award in collaboration with WSBI. This year, the award has been given to Caja Huancayo, a Peruvian financial institution, in recognition of its commitment to sustainable development and financial innovation.

Caja Huancayo has been working for three decades to promote innovative financial solutions that foster inclusion, ensure access to credit, and promote a more sustainable and responsible banking. With a strong focus on micro-financing, the entity has launched the EKEKO app, which transforms access to credit by removing barriers to presence, promoting financial autonomy for users to apply for credits of up to 2,133 dollars. It is also a driving force behind the Work in Progress program to create employment for youth and women alongside Fundación “la Caixa”, Fundación Grupo Social (Colombia), and Al Barid Bank (Morocco). Furthermore, Caja Huancayo is a founding member of the Amazon Financial Network, created by BID Invest and the International Finance Corporation to increase investment flows, mobilize capital, promote financial inclusion, and share innovative knowledge and best practices in the sector.

Leading in private social investment in Spain

Social Work represents one of the fundamental pillars of CECA’s sector activity and one of its main hallmarks. Through its associated foundations, deeply rooted in the territories where they are present, CECA promotes initiatives with real impact in areas such as social inclusion, territorial cohesion, education, culture, research, employment, and sustainability. This commitment translates into a close, transformative social action oriented to meet the real needs of society, reinforcing the role of foundations as engines of social development in their communities.

Since the enactment of the Law on Savings Banks and Banking Foundations in 2013, CECA and its associated foundations’ accumulated investment in Social Work has exceeded 8.729 billion euros, with which over a million activities have been launched. Specifically, in 2024, the sector foundations allocated more than 900 million euros to Social Work, a 6.5% increase from the previous year, leading private social investment in Spain. Thanks to this funding, over 99,000 activities were implemented during the year, reaching more than 35 million beneficiaries, particularly among the most vulnerable groups.

In addition, CECA-associated entities develop programs that promote the improvement of financial culture as a key element to foster inclusion, stability, and economic progress in society, consolidating the sector as one of the main references in this area. Thus, CECA, its associated entities, and its Fundación Funcas allocated a total of 3.22 million euros in 2024 to 115 financial education programs in Spain, representing a 25% increase from the previous year. Thanks to this investment, over 7,900 activities were conducted, with more than 43.8 million impacts among attendees and digital accesses.