Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
Unicaja nears deal to buy parts of WiZink
Unicaja is negotiating to buy parts of WiZink, a digital bank focused on consumer finance.
The Spanish bank, based in Málaga, wants to expand in consumer lending, and the deal would include WiZink’s technology platform, two fintech businesses and its Portugal operation.
Spain’s central bank has approved a plan to separate disputed revolving-credit loans into a separate entity.
Those loans are facing lawsuits over claims that WiZink charged excessive interest, and they would remain with Värde Partners, WiZink’s majority shareholder.
The deal would leave the contested loans out of the sale and include businesses without those legal problems, including WiZink’s Portuguese operation.
WiZink has been loss-making for six years, with accumulated losses of €361 million, largely linked to provisions for the lawsuits.
Unicaja has made an offer, but the price is still being finalized, and the amount has not been disclosed.
The proposed sale still needs to go to Unicaja’s board; if completed, it would be the bank’s first move outside Spain.
Unicaja is negotiating to buy some of WiZink’s consumer-finance businesses, with talks described as being in a decisive phase.
The proposed deal would exclude WiZink’s revolving-credit loans facing legal claims over allegedly excessive interest rates.
The Bank of Spain has approved plans to group those disputed loans in a separate “bad bank” that would remain with majority shareholder Värde Partners.
Unicaja has reportedly made an offer for some of WiZink’s businesses, but the price has not been disclosed.
The businesses under discussion include WiZink’s consumer-credit technology platform, fintechs Aplazame and Lendrock, and its business in Portugal.
- Who
- Unicaja and WiZink. Värde Partners, WiZink’s majority shareholder, would retain the disputed revolving-credit loans.
- What
- Unicaja is negotiating to buy some of WiZink’s businesses, excluding the loans facing legal claims.
- When
- Talks have continued for several months and are in a decisive phase as of 16 October 2026.
- Where
- Spain and Portugal; a deal would be Unicaja’s first expansion outside Spain.
- Why
- Unicaja wants to grow its consumer-finance business.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Unicaja and WiZink negotiated a possible sale of some of WiZink’s businesses.
The Bank of Spain approved a plan to group disputed revolving-credit loans in a separate entity.
Unicaja had reportedly made an offer, and the parties were negotiating the final details of the price.
- Offer price
- Not disclosed; reportedly below the businesses’ book value
- WiZink net assets
- €420 million
- WiZink customer base
- 1.5 million customers
- WiZink revolving-credit provisions
- Up to €600 million
- WiZink accumulated losses
- €361 million