la Caixa

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Main buildings of La Caixa, Barcelona (Catalonia)
Main buildings of La Caixa, Barcelona (Catalonia)

"la Caixa" is the common name for the Caixa d'Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona (Spanish: Caja de Ahorros y Pensiones de Barcelona), a pension and savings bank in Catalonia. It is one of the most important savings banks in Europe, Catalonia's first and Spain's third largest financial entity.

Today's "la Caixa" is the result of a July 27, 1990 merger of the Caja de Pensiones para la Vejez y de Ahorros de Cataluña y Baleares, founded in 1904, and the Caja de Ahorros y Monte de Piedad de Barcelona, founded in 1844.

The social goal of the bank is the gathering of savings through authorized means, the realization of beneficial works, and the investment of funds in activities which are secure and profitable for the general good.

Due to its status, the bank controls the largest charitable foundation in Spain, and one of the largest in the world. This foundation makes major investments in such public welfare causes as care of the aged and infants, curing Alzheimer's, technologically advanced classrooms, old-age centers, and the like.

In 2005 the bank received the Gold Medal of the Generalitat de Catalunya for these efforts.

The striking logo was designed by the famous Catalan artist, Joan Miró.

See also: Criteria CaixaCorp

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