Social Activity in Spanish Banking Foundations: Governance Dynamics

Regulators in Spain transformed the savings bank by dividing each of them into a bank and a foundation. The bank continues lending activity, and the foundation focuses on social work. The aim of this paper is to explore how the governance structures and their dynamics in banking foundations relate t...

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Main Authors: Carlos Rubio Nieto, José Luis Fernández Fernández, José Manuel Rodríguez Carrasco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Social Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/3/166
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author Carlos Rubio Nieto
José Luis Fernández Fernández
José Manuel Rodríguez Carrasco
author_facet Carlos Rubio Nieto
José Luis Fernández Fernández
José Manuel Rodríguez Carrasco
author_sort Carlos Rubio Nieto
collection DOAJ
description Regulators in Spain transformed the savings bank by dividing each of them into a bank and a foundation. The bank continues lending activity, and the foundation focuses on social work. The aim of this paper is to explore how the governance structures and their dynamics in banking foundations relate to their social work. For this purpose, we use the relevant theoretical framework in the field of governance, focusing on agency, stewardship, and stakeholder theories. To achieve this aim, we perform semi-structured interviews with members of governance bodies, in the framework of a qualitative approach. We find that studied characteristics of governance relate to social work in different ways. Diversity in the governance bodies, through a balance between economic and social logic, and through representation of stakeholders, among other elements, relates positively to the level of social work. Additionally, it shapes the mix of social activity types. We conclude that the chosen theoretical framework helps us understand the phenomenon and interpret the results. The research question is answered but, at the same time, the empirical research reveals the complexity of the relationships and indicates future lines of research.
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spelling doaj-art-ea30bf1817e541819bfb24af0ca67f612025-08-20T03:43:58ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602025-03-0114316610.3390/socsci14030166Social Activity in Spanish Banking Foundations: Governance DynamicsCarlos Rubio Nieto0José Luis Fernández Fernández1José Manuel Rodríguez Carrasco2Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales (ICADE), Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid, C/Alberto Aguilera 23, 28015 Madrid, SpainFacultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales (ICADE), Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid, C/Alberto Aguilera 23, 28015 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Organización de Empresas, UNED, Paseo Senda del Rey, 11, 28040 Madrid, SpainRegulators in Spain transformed the savings bank by dividing each of them into a bank and a foundation. The bank continues lending activity, and the foundation focuses on social work. The aim of this paper is to explore how the governance structures and their dynamics in banking foundations relate to their social work. For this purpose, we use the relevant theoretical framework in the field of governance, focusing on agency, stewardship, and stakeholder theories. To achieve this aim, we perform semi-structured interviews with members of governance bodies, in the framework of a qualitative approach. We find that studied characteristics of governance relate to social work in different ways. Diversity in the governance bodies, through a balance between economic and social logic, and through representation of stakeholders, among other elements, relates positively to the level of social work. Additionally, it shapes the mix of social activity types. We conclude that the chosen theoretical framework helps us understand the phenomenon and interpret the results. The research question is answered but, at the same time, the empirical research reveals the complexity of the relationships and indicates future lines of research.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/3/166banking foundationsnonprofit organizations governanceboard compositionsocial work
spellingShingle Carlos Rubio Nieto
José Luis Fernández Fernández
José Manuel Rodríguez Carrasco
Social Activity in Spanish Banking Foundations: Governance Dynamics
Social Sciences
banking foundations
nonprofit organizations governance
board composition
social work
title Social Activity in Spanish Banking Foundations: Governance Dynamics
title_full Social Activity in Spanish Banking Foundations: Governance Dynamics
title_fullStr Social Activity in Spanish Banking Foundations: Governance Dynamics
title_full_unstemmed Social Activity in Spanish Banking Foundations: Governance Dynamics
title_short Social Activity in Spanish Banking Foundations: Governance Dynamics
title_sort social activity in spanish banking foundations governance dynamics
topic banking foundations
nonprofit organizations governance
board composition
social work
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/3/166
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