Santander was the only major Spanish bank to gain shareholders in 2026

Santander was the only major Spanish bank to gain shareholders in the first nine months of 2026.

By September 30, its shareholder base had grown 1.1% to 3.55 million, with 41,090 new investors.

BBVA and CaixaBank both lost shareholders, falling by 8,673 and 8,617, respectively.

The three banks’ shares reached record highs in September, but the sector later saw a broad pullback.

Santander’s share price was also affected by the unexpected election victory of Brazil’s Lula da Silva, while BBVA’s shares fell after it reported results.

Santander’s shareholder growth ran against a common pattern in which individual investors buy bank shares during sharp price falls and sell after big rises.

The impact of recent market moves on shareholder numbers is not yet known.