Cecabank has hosted a new edition of the country’s main post-trading industry forum, bringing together prominent representatives from banks, asset managers, supervisory bodies, regulators, and technology firms
Among the keynote speakers were Carlos San Basilio, Chair of the CNMV, and Rodrigo Buenaventura, Secretary General of IOSCO
The event gathered over 250 professionals from 120 financial institutions and sector bodies
The post-trade industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by digitalisation, innovation, and regulatory changes. It plays a key role in the stability and efficiency of financial markets, especially in an uncertain environment marked by global instability due to geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Against this backdrop, Cecabank today held the 11th Securities Services Forum under the theme “Driving Change and Industry Trends” at the Real Casino de Madrid. Organised in partnership with Expansión and with the collaboration of Funds People, the event brought together 250 professionals from 120 financial institutions and sector bodies, cementing its status as a key forum for analysing the current state and future outlook of the post-trade industry.
The opening session was led by Carlos San Basilio, Chair of the CNMV, who announced that “the CNMV is preparing its own internal simplification plan, for which we are currently reviewing and updating our supervisory and authorisation procedures. Our goal is to reduce unnecessary burdens for all market participants, in line with what we have already done by eliminating the PTI”.
Joining him in the opening session were Salvador Arancibia, journalist and Deputy Director at Expansión, and Ainhoa Jáuregui, Acting CEO of Cecabank, who stated that “Cecabank Securities Services has become one of the most robust and transformational pillars of the financial system. A business that has not only shown exceptional resilience and efficiency, but also an ability to adapt to the challenging demands of the global financial environment”, adding: “At Cecabank, we stand by our clients, anticipating regulatory changes that impact the service. Topics such as securities lending and the move to T+1 are just some examples. Our commitment: to anticipate, support, and deliver value at every step”.
This 11th edition featured three panel discussions focusing on some of the key transformations set to shape the future of the sector. Throughout the sessions, experts discussed highly topical issues including securities lending, the transition to the T+1 settlement model, the MiCA regulation, and the impact of generative artificial intelligence on financial markets.
The first panel, moderated by Óscar Mateos, Director of Securities and Current Accounts at Cecabank, examined the impact of the transition to the T+1 settlement model, already implemented in markets such as the United States and Canada. This shift, which Europe is expected to adopt in 2027, aims to reduce systemic risk and enhance operational efficiency in financial transactions. The panel featured Jesús Sánchez, Head of Settlement Services at BME; Benoit Dethier, Sales & Relationship Manager at Citi; and Juan Alfonso Rando, Director of Securities at CaixaBank.
The second panel focused on the latest trends in securities lending, a key practice for market liquidity and portfolio optimisation. The panel was moderated by Fernando Toledano, Director of Business Development at Cecabank, and included Elisa Ricón, General Manager of INVERCO, and Gloria Hernández, representative of ADEPO and partner at finReg360.
The third panel opened the discussion on the regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and digital assets, with a special focus on the MiCA regulation recently approved by the European Union. Moderated by Virginia Linares, Director of Coordination and Control for Securities Services at Cecabank, the session featured Alberto Goyanes, Head of Digital Assets at Renta 4; Isabel Gómez, Director of Transformation and Innovation at Kutxabank; and Mariona Pericas, Director of Financial Regulation at finReg360.
This final panel was followed by a conference on the impact of generative artificial intelligence on the financial industry, a topic of growing importance in the development of new operational and supervisory models. The session was introduced by Arantxa Rubio from Funds People, an expert in Depositary & Legal Solutions, and was led by Francisco del Olmo, Deputy Director responsible for Fintech and Cybersecurity at the CNMV.
Rodrigo Buenaventura, Secretary General of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), and Aurora Cuadros, Corporate Director of Securities Services at Cecabank, closed the event. Rodrigo Buenaventura, Secretary General of IOSCO, noted: “With the advance of digitalisation, it is now more important than ever to strengthen the security and resilience of custody, settlement and clearing infrastructures. IOSCO is committed to supporting this increase in sector resilience at a global level”. Meanwhile, Aurora Cuadros, Corporate Director of Securities Services at Cecabank, underlined that “Cecabank aims to remain an active player, driving the changes and trends in the sector, as reflected in the theme of this event”.
Cecabank maintains an undisputed leadership position in depositary and custody services
Cecabank has established itself as a key infrastructure within the Spanish financial system. As a leading custodian bank, it stands out for its specialisation, independence and strong commitment to service excellence, providing financial and technological solutions not only to credit institutions, but also to management companies of collective investment and venture capital schemes, insurance companies, securities issuers and investment service firms.
The bank holds a solid position in depositary and custody services, posting record business figures over the past year. In terms of total assets under custody, Cecabank serves over 100 financial institutions of all kinds, with more than EUR 351.36 billion in securities across more than 70 international markets. In the depositary field, it provides services to 46 management companies of collective investment institutions, pension funds, Voluntary Social Welfare Entities (EPSVs), and venture capital entities, reaching over EUR 255.6 billion in assets under deposit, and supervises 45% of the country's pension savings.
As a custodian bank, it has become a fundamental part of the financial system, helping to generate synergies, achieve economies of scale and reduce costs. Cecabank’s financial strength, with a capital adequacy ratio of 42.78%, more than triple that of a conventional bank, reflects not only the robustness of its model, but also its ongoing commitment to innovation, efficiency and specialisation.
