With wildfires still active in the regions of Madrid, Ávila and Toledo, and with state compensation yet to be announced, Spain's largest banks have moved ahead of the government by rolling out urgent financial support for affected residents, farmers and businesses. Banco Santander, BBVA and Unicaja have each introduced tailored measures designed to provide immediate liquidity and relief to those whose homes, properties or livelihoods have been damaged by the flames.
Banco Santander has activated a dedicated monitoring system to track the situation of customers hit by the fires. The bank is proactively contacting affected clients and employees to evaluate the impact on their homes, farms, warehouses and businesses. In addition, Santander is collaborating with the Red Cross fundraising campaign to support emergency and assistance efforts. The bank has pledged to work «hand in hand» with clients, adapting solutions as the full extent of the damage becomes known, and will conduct an individualised analysis for each case.
BBVA has extended its aid to cover fires in Madrid, Ávila, León, Segovia and Castellón. For private individuals, the bank is offering loans of up to 50,000 euros with repayment terms of between 12 and 60 months, including the possibility of a grace period of up to six months. For self-employed workers, small and medium-sized enterprises and larger companies, loans of up to 200,000 euros are available, with a maximum repayment period of 48 months and a grace period of up to 24 months to align instalments with each business's situation. BBVA has also designated specific branches in the affected areas — including Guadalajara, El Bierzo, Segovia, Ávila and several locations in the Community of Madrid and Castellón — where victims can go to discuss their options. The bank's insurance arm, BBVA Allianz, has set up a dedicated telephone line (911 749 620) to assist policyholders affected by the fires.
Unicaja, for its part, is channelling financing to the agricultural sector through the ICO-MAPA-Saeca line, a government-backed scheme managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with a total budget of 300 million euros. The programme is aimed at farmers, livestock breeders, fishing and aquaculture operators, and agri-food businesses that have suffered from drought, rising production costs and international market uncertainty. Under this line, beneficiaries can receive a bonus of 15 percent of the principal, up to a maximum of 15,000 euros per recipient. Loans can be arranged with terms of up to 15 years and grace periods of up to three years, depending on the use of funds. Maximum amounts reach 400,000 euros for individuals and 600,000 euros for legal entities. The scheme is open until 30 September 2028 or until the available credit is exhausted. Unicaja's director of SMEs, Businesses and Corporate Products, Santiago Casanova, said the line enables «farmers, livestock farmers and agri‑food companies to access financing under especially advantageous conditions to maintain their activity and undertake investments at a time of high cost pressure».
The banks' initiatives come as victims continue to wait for state aid packages that the government has promised but not yet delivered. The fires, which have burned thousands of hectares across central and eastern Spain, have destroyed homes, farmland and business premises, leaving many families and entrepreneurs in urgent need of cash to cover immediate expenses such as temporary accommodation, repairs or replacement of lost equipment. While the authorities have activated emergency protocols and deployed firefighters, the financial response from the private sector has been faster than that from public institutions. The three banks have stressed that they are committed to accompanying affected clients throughout the recovery process, offering proximity and flexibility until normal activity can resume.