CECA and the Company of Blanca Marsillach Premiere ‘Las cosas fáciles’, a Theatre Play to Enhance Financial Education for Older Adults

More than 245,000 individuals over 65 have received financial and digital training thanks to programs developed by entities within the sector

‘Las cosas fáciles’ aims to improve the financial education of the senior community, equipping them with the necessary tools to gain autonomy in managing their personal finances

The theatrical project -sponsored by actor Antonio Resines and former athlete Fernando Romay- will travel across much of Spain, bringing the initiative closer to a significant number of people

The CECA sector (comprising CaixaBank, Kutxabank and Cajasur Banco, Abanca, Unicaja Banco, Ibercaja Banco, Caixa Ontinyent, Colonya Pollença and Cecabank) has launched a new initiative through the Funcas Financial Education Stimulus Program (Funcas Educa). In collaboration with the Company of Blanca Marsillach, the theatre play ‘Las cosas fáciles’ premieres today, October 26, at the Teatro Bellas Artes in Madrid, aiming to improve the financial education of this community, equipping them with the necessary tools to gain autonomy in managing their personal finances.

Sponsored by actor Antonio Resines and former athlete Fernando Romay, ‘Las cosas fáciles’ is a cultural initiative tailored to the specific needs of the elderly, addressing topics to improve financial and digital literacy in an engaging manner. Furthermore, in line with the reach characteristic of the entities associated with CECA, the play will tour much of the Spanish territory with the goal of bringing the initiative closer to a significant number of people, while also promoting financial inclusion at the national level.

The inaugural performance was attended by Blanca Marsillach, actress, producer, and director of the theatre company, actor Antonio Resines, and former athlete Fernando Romay, sponsors of the play. Additionally, a panel discussion was held during the premiere featuring Alberto Velasco, writer and director of the play, Antonio Romero, director of Associative Services and Resources at CECA, and Fernando Tejada, director of the Behavior of Entities Department at the Bank of Spain. Following this, attendees enjoyed the first performance of ‘Las cosas fáciles’.

In the words of Antonio Romero, director of Associative Services and Resources at CECA: “Over the years, our seniors have been a driving force for the well-being of society and a source of invaluable knowledge and experience, which is why we cannot allow them to be left behind in the face of advancing digitalization. Financial inclusion is a continuous and priority commitment upheld by CECA and its associated entities. Culture is a cross-cutting axis and a driver for societal development, generating social inclusion and catalyzing diversity. We firmly believe that culture is one of the most effective vehicles for bringing education to all communities.”

More than 245,000 seniors trained in financial and digital education

To contribute to accelerating progress towards an inclusive economy, the CECA sector has been developing a wide range of measures aimed at promoting financial and digital education in society for years, especially in rural areas and for at-risk groups. This commitment is reflected in the two occasions when CECA has received the Finance for All Award for its efforts in disseminating financial culture, an acknowledgment granted by the initiators of the National Financial Education Plan (Bank of Spain and CNMV).

This mission materialized in 2021 with the signing of the ‘Strategic Protocol to Reinforce the Social and Sustainable Commitment of Banking’, alongside AEB and Unacc, and the corresponding ‘Decalogue for Personalized Attention to Seniors’ in 2022, which outlines the advances and efforts made by credit entities to promote financial inclusion for older adults. Both initiatives address the specific needs of senior clients in managing their personal finances, with the aim of helping them gain confidence in a complex environment and being aware of the existing risks related to cybersecurity.

Among the measures implemented, 81% of offices have adjusted their hours of operation; nearly 90% of the ATM network has been adapted to meet the needs of individuals over 65; and the role of senior advisor has been solidified. Additionally, more than 245,000 senior clients have been trained in financial knowledge and digital skills. Moreover, in-person training in these subjects was promoted, resulting in a 45% increase in the number of seniors trained through this method in the second half of 2022.

Also, under the premise of ensuring financial education for all, CECA, its associated entities, and its foundation Funcas invested more than 2.23 million euros during 2022 to promote programs aimed at strengthening financial and digital education in Spain. During this period, more than 13 million impacts were recorded, including in-person attendees and digital accesses, of which 25% (3.2 million) were users from the senior community.

Finally, aware that the link between financial knowledge and the digital environment is inevitable, the banking associations launched the Financial and Digital Classroom, a portal that includes activities related to these topics, as well as various cybersecurity initiatives and fraud prevention efforts developed by the associated entities.