ing sector.”

This is a piece of the dialogue from an interview with El Mundo and the presidents of the two largest banks in Spain in 1996 -- Ybarra, the "cricket" from Santander and Botin, the ba

This article is about Change. About a change that will, or will not happen. Resistance is one of the main players.

Spain is changing rapidly and so is banking in Spain. There is already more competition due to the arrival of internet banking a few years ago (Bank Inter). But so far the competition has been dominated by local banks. Just think how it was fifteen years ago: “.. bankers in this country where accustomed to gather each month around a well served dish to unite their strategies and to renovate their secret pact. «first command: do not steal clients from your friend. Second: do not raise interest rates without previous noticing. Third: do not launch products without communicating to the competition...» Someone mentioned Competition? That was exactly what didn't exist in the banking sector.”

This is a piece of the dialogue from an interview with El Mundo and the presidents of the two largest banks in Spain in 1996 -- Ybarra, the "cricket" from Santander and Botin, the bas

etition due to the arrival of internet banking a few years ago (Bank Inter). But so far the competition has been dominated by local banks. Just think how it was fifteen years ago: “.. bankers in this country where accustomed to gather each month around a well served dish to unite their strategies and to renovate their secret pact. «first command: do not steal clients from your friend. Second: do not raise interest rates without previous noticing. Third: do not launch products without communicating to the competition...» Someone mentioned Competition? That was exactly what didn't exist in the banking sector.”

This is a piece of the dialogue from an interview with El Mundo and the presidents of the two largest banks in Spain in 1996 -- Ybarra, the "cricket" from Santander and Botin, the ba

country where accustomed to gather each month around a well served dish to unite their strategies and to renovate their secret pact. «first command: do not steal clients from your friend. Second: do not raise interest rates without previous noticing. Third: do not launch products without communicating to the competition...» Someone mentioned Competition? That was exactly what didn't exist in the banking sector.”

This is a piece of the dialogue from an interview with El Mundo and the presidents of the two largest banks in Spain in 1996 -- Ybarra, the "cricket" from Santander and Botin, the ba

raise interest rates without previous noticing. Third: do not launch products without communicating to the competition...» Someone mentioned Competition? That was exactly what didn't exist in the banking sector.”

This is a piece of the dialogue from an interview with El Mundo and the presidents of the two largest banks in Spain in 1996 -- Ybarra, the "cricket" from Santander and Botin, the ba

ing sector.”

This is a piece of the dialogue from an interview with El Mundo and the presidents of the two largest banks in Spain in 1996 -- Ybarra, the "cricket" from Santander and Botin, the basque’ (BBVA) "ant" -- (elmundo.es/papel/hemeroteca/1996/12/09/economia/188863.html). As said, that was fifteen years ago. But after the introduction of internet, new globalization trends seems add more and new competitive actions.

ING (Direct) has introduced a new and offensive campaign called “Fresh banking.” Fresh banking refers to an approach where -- amongst other things, like more transparency -- the traditional commission are removed. This is already a best-practice in the Netherlands – where the head-office of ING is located - but until today "not-done" in Spain, where a single transfer to another account at the same bank will cost you one euro. Without exception.

Having experienced this you may think: well this might trigger just another competitive revolution in the Spani