Extended service for rural financial access

The Generalitat has extended its mobile banking service until 2028, ensuring continued access for 42 small municipalities in the Alt Pirineu and Aran regions. The Department of Economy and Finance renewed its contract with CaixaBank and Caixa Enginyers to operate itinerant bank offices across 453 Catalan towns lacking physical branches. Under the new agreement, these mobile units will visit each participating town every 15 days or once per month, depending on population size. They function as full-service branches, equipped with ATMs and trained staff who can handle cash deposits and withdrawals, bill payments, transfers, tax filings, and account management.

Reaching isolated communities

The service covers 42 towns across five mountain comarcas: Pallars Jussà, Pallars Sobirà, Cerdanya, Alt Urgell, and Val d’Aran. In Pallars Jussà, it serves Abella de la Conca, Castell de Mur, Conca de Dalt, Gavet de la Conca, Llimiana, Salàs de Pallars, Sant Esteve de la Sarga, Sarroca de Bellera, Senterada, Talarn, and Torre de Capdella. Pallars Sobirà towns include Alins, Alt Àneu, Esterri de Cardós, Farrera, Guingueta d’Àneu, Lladorre, Soriguera, Tírvia, and Vall de Cardós. In Cerdanya, the mobile unit visits Bolvir, Das, Fontanals de Cerdanya, Ger, Guils de Cerdanya, Isòvol, Lles de Cerdanya, Meranges, Prats i Sansor, Prullans, Riu de Cerdanya, and Urús. Bassella and Peramola are served in Alt Urgell, while Arres, Bausen, Bossòst, Canejan, Es Bòrdes, Les, Naut Aran, and Vilamòs receive service in Val d’Aran.

Today we are stitching together an important project to guarantee financial inclusion across Catalonia.

Economy and Finance Minister Natàlia Mas Guix said the extension ensures no resident is excluded due to location, age, digital skills, or income. She highlighted that 307,553 people live in the 503 Catalan municipalities without a fixed bank branch.

Reducing travel for essential services

Since launching in September 2024, the mobile banking network has made 15,949 visits, covering 383,128 kilometres and offering 17,758 hours of face-to-face service. It has served 30,785 individuals and processed €12.6 million in cash transactions, with total transaction volume reaching €16.6 million when including transfers and other operations. According to user satisfaction surveys by the Department of Economy and Finance, residents rate the service 9 out of 10, praising reduced travel, proximity, and personalised attention. The initiative aligns with the Rural Municipalities Statute, which mandates access to financial services and promotes mobile branches where permanent ones do not exist. Despite progress, from 298 towns without any banking access in 2023 to just 33 in 2025, Catalonia still has 503 municipalities without physical bank offices, including 411 that never had one and 92 that lost theirs. CaixaBank will serve 503 municipalities across 41 comarcas, while Caixa Enginyers will cover 313 towns in 24 comarcas. Each provider must ensure monthly visits lasting at least 30 minutes in towns under 250 inhabitants and at least one hour in larger ones. Jointly, they will provide dual monthly visits to 313 overlapping towns, enhancing availability.

Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by La Valira.