Reliability is the most important thing for a bank, and it manifests in different ways. The CaixaBank logo exemplifies this best, featuring sea imagery to suggest that by trusting it, you can enjoy peace of mind without worrying about financial concerns.
CaixaBank traces its origins to Catalonia, dating back to 1844 with the creation of Caja de Ahorros y Monte de Piedad de Barcelona. A second institution appeared on April 5, 1904, when Francesc Moragas Barret founded Caja de Pensiones para la Vejez y de Ahorros de Cataluña y Baleares, later known as “la Caixa,” focused on savings and social insurance.
Moragas introduced structured management and expanded services. By 1905, “la Caixa” had 109 branches and held 59.5% of deposits in Catalonia. The network continued to grow beyond the region, forming one of the largest branch systems in Spain.
A major consolidation came in 1990, when “la Caixa” merged with Caja de Ahorros y Monte de Piedad de Barcelona. In 2007, the group listed its investment arm, Criteria CaixaCorp, in Spain’s largest IPO at the time.
In 2011, restructuring led to the creation of CaixaBank as a listed entity, while industrial assets, including Grupo PortAventura, Gas Natural, and Abertis, were transferred to Criteria CaixaHolding. The bank retained stakes in Repsol YPF and Telefónica.
The financial crisis opened expansion opportunities. In 2012, CaixaBank acquired Banca Cívica for €977 million and later took over Banco de Valencia after state intervention. While competitors like Bankia faced balance issues, CaixaBank strengthened its position.
In 2014, “la Caixa” became a banking foundation. In 2017, the bank relocated its legal headquarters to Valencia amid political uncertainty in Catalonia.
In 2021, CaixaBank absorbed Bankia, forming Spain’s largest bank by assets and clients, surpassing Banco Santander and BBVA.
Meaning and History
CaixaBank was founded in 2011 based on the Pension Bank of Barcelona, Caja de Ahorros y Pensiones de Barcelona (La Caixa). The name CaixaBank was chosen for representative and institutional purposes and was launched on July 1st. The bankers declared their mission to contribute to the financial well-being of Catalonia residents, the region’s development, and the progress of society as a whole. The main values are quality, trust, and social responsibility.
By 2020, the bank’s assets had exceeded €500 billion, and a mobile bank operating through the ImaginBank app had been established. The bank has more than 6,000 branches, 9,500 ATMs, and approximately 32,000 employees, with a customer base of nearly 15 million.
Throughout the institution’s existence, the logo has undergone several changes. In the bank’s history, until the 1970s of the last century, it did not have a specific logo; instead, the name and seal, featuring the word “Caixa,” were used.
In 1979, the board of La Caixa decided to create a full-fledged logo, for which they engaged the design agency Landor & Associates and, with them, the famous Catalan artist Joan Miró, who was living in the Balearic Islands at the time.
It was proposed to make an eight-pointed star to avoid religious and political connotations, and the color palette was to include red and yellow, symbolizing the flags of Spain and the Balearic Islands.
Miró experimented for a long time and, in 1980, presented his version, choosing a five-pointed star but giving it the lively image of a sea star. He made a tapestry logo that the bank owners liked so much they immediately hung it on the wall in the main office, and all business cards were reprinted with the emblem added.
The logo’s basis is a saturated orange rectangle, symbolizing the Catalan lands, which are known for their use of this color. On the left is a bright blue star in a thin white frame, with two circular bubbles next to it. The name CaixaBank is written in black with a white outline; a stripe that encircles it symbolizes stability and reliability.
In 2018, another version of the emblem was created and used on employee badges and mobile applications.
It represents an almost-white rectangle (with a slight bluish tint). The star with circles is at the top; a thin black stripe emphasizes it, and below is the name CaixaBank. For applications, the inscription appears as follows: “la Caixa”.
What is Caixabank?
CaixaBank is one of the largest banking holdings in Spain. It was formed in 2011 as a result of the reorganization of Criteria CaixaCorp and provides a wide range of financial services, including insurance, lending, and investment products. Its clients are large corporations, medium-sized businesses, small enterprises, and private individuals. The bank is known for its innovative solutions that improve service quality.
1904 -1954
1954 – 1960
1960 – 1967
1967 – 1976
1976 – 1982
After rebranding, the banking institution adopted the abbreviated name La Caixa and a new logo. It is maximally practical and informative, as it contains nothing but the text with the financial institution’s name. All letters are lowercase in the preposition, and in the main word, one is uppercase. The contours are rounded. The inscription is set in bold and enclosed in quotation marks on both sides.
1982 – 2014
The next emblem is filled with chic and originality. To attract customers’ attention and increase its popularity, the bank changed its style. It chose the theme of relaxation, emphasizing that every customer can calmly enjoy the sea’s charm while the bank is open. The designers conveyed serenity in a blue star with five rays. Also, there are two multicolored spots next to it: a large red one and a small sandy one, as if they were stones heated by the tropical sun. Instead of semi-bold, a bold font is now used. The shape of the quotes has changed; they have become elongated.
2014 – today
As a result of rebranding, the bank’s name changed, so it was logical to change the logo as well. Although the inscription remained underlined, the quotes disappeared. The word “CaixaBank” consists of two stems and is written as a single unit. To the left of it, an irregular five-pointed sea star and two bright bare stones are still visible. They discuss the bank’s proximity to the sea, with warm coastlines surrounding the Spanish lands.
Font and Colors
During the logo evolution process, a sudden “glitch” occurred: instead of a strict, semi-official emblem, a friendly and optimistic sign emerged. The bright approach to identity balanced the banking organization’s strict style, bringing it closer to clients and instilling confidence. The developers also modernized the text, shifting it from daring to elegant and restrained.
The management approved the Weiss font for the updated logo, which is lighter than the previous one. Thanks to the thin symbols, it harmoniously combines with the icon. The inscription is solid, lowercase, with two uppercase letters, “C” and “B.”
The blue color was chosen because it stands out well on any background and signifies friendliness and trust in the client. The star is also reminded of its image, which features a person throwing coins into a piggy bank. This means that the money deposited in the bank will be safe.
In subsequent years, the logo changed its background color from black to red and yellow, but the star and coins remain unchanged to this day.









