Madrid, Jan 25, 2026, 21:46 CET — The market has closed.
- Spain’s anti-money laundering watchdog slapped a fine of roughly 40 million euros on Santander’s digital arm, Openbank, Bloomberg reported.
- Santander shares closed at 10.48 euros in Madrid on Friday, down 1.45%, while Spain’s IBEX 35 dipped 0.67%.
- Santander’s calendar lists FY’25 earnings for Feb. 4, followed by an Investor Day on Feb. 25.
Banco Santander’s shares slipped on Friday following news that Spain’s anti-money laundering watchdog Sepblac slapped a roughly 40 million euro fine on its digital arm, Openbank, for internal process lapses. The stock closed at 10.48 euros, down 1.45%.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Openbank is now a key growth driver for Santander, which has been expanding the digital brand beyond Spain into the U.S. and Mexico. At the same time, Santander is planning a deeper integration with its consumer finance business.
Investors are gearing up for Santander’s full-year results, with the group planning to release its FY’25 materials on Feb. 4, just before the presentation.
Santander declined to comment on the fine or its size when approached by Europa Press. The bank said the Sepblac review focused on issues from several years ago that have since been resolved and “is not linked to any money laundering case.” Instead, it points to interpretative questions around procedures and controls, including those involving inactive accounts. Europa Press
The broader market offered little support. Spain’s IBEX 35 dropped 0.67% on Friday, while Europe’s banking sector index slipped as well. That leaves Santander exposed if investors look to cut risk come Monday.
In New York, Santander’s U.S.-listed ADRs closed Friday down 0.24%, finishing at $12.37.
Traders also took in a batch of smaller corporate updates, including a principal repayment notice on two listed securities. Plus, a company spokesperson confirmed to Financial News that investment banking vice chair David Miller is stepping down.
The bigger question remains: what’s next on the compliance front? A lengthy appeal or more regulatory action could thrust costs and controls into the spotlight—just as investors demand clear signals on strategy and capital returns.
On Feb. 4–5, the European Central Bank holds its policy meeting, coinciding with Santander’s upcoming earnings report. This clash could shake up rate forecasts across the sector.
