The Banco de España ("Bank of Spain") is the national central bank of Spain. Established in Madrid in 1782 by Charles III of Spain, today the bank is a member of the European System of Central Banks.

History

Originally named the Banco Nacional de San Carlos, its first director was French banker Francisco Cabarrús.

Following a series of wars between 1793 and 1814, the bank was owed more than 300 million reales by the state, placing it in severe difficulties.

Treasury minister Luis López Ballesteros created a fund of 40 million reales in 1829 against which the bank could issue its own notes within Madrid. It did so after renaming itself Banco Español de San Fernando.

In 1844 the competing Banco de Isabel II and Banco de Barcelona were established, followed in 1846 by the Banco de Cádiz. In 1847 following overexposure in the failing property market of Madrid, the Banco de Isabel II merged with Banco de San Fernando, retaining the latter's name.

Under the guidance of Ramón Santillán in the 1850s, the bank extended its operations to the cities of Alicante and Valencia and took its current name, Banco de España. Requiring financial support from the bank to back its civil and colonial wars, the government of Spain granted the Banco de España a monopoly on the issuance of Spanish bank notes in 1874.

In 1946 after the Spanish Civil War, the government of General Franco placed the bank under tight control. It was formally nationalised in 1962. Following the restoration of democracy in the late 1970s, the bank began a series of transformations and modernisations which continue to today.

On Spain's entry into the Economic and Monetary Union in 1994, the Banco de España became a member of the European System of Central Banks.

Governing structures

The governing structures of the Bank are:

1. The Governor.
2. The Sub-Governor.
3. The Governing Council.
4. The Executive Commission.

The Governor of the Bank is named by the Spanish monarch, based on the recommendation of the President of the government. The Governor must be a Spanish citizen recognized for his or her competence in monetary or banking matters. When a new Governor is named, the Minister of Economy and Finance, in accord with a procedure established by the Congress of Deputies, informs the competent parliamentary commission.

The tasks of the Governor include: a) Direct the Bank and preside over the Governing Council and Executive Commission. b) Take primary responsibility for the Bank fufilling its responsibilities and for doing so in a lawful manner. The Governor has ultimate responsibility authorizing bank contracts and other legal documents and for the Bank's representation before tribunals of justice. c) Represent the Bank in international institutional contexts. d) Function as a member of the Governing Council of the Bank and as a member of the General Council of the European System of Central Banks.

The Sub-Governor, designated by the national Government on the recommendation of the Governor of the Bank, should meet all of the official qualifications for the governorship. The Sub-Governor substitutes for the Governor in cases of vacancy, absence or illness, both as director of the Bank and as its representative. Further responsibilities of this office are a matter internal to the Bank, and are delegated by the Governor.

Six Counsellors of the Bank are designated by the national Government, on the proposal of the Minister of Economy and Finance, with the involvement of the Governor of the Bank. They must be Spanish citizens recognized for their competence in economics or law.

The Executive Commission consists of:

1. The Governor, who presides.
2. The Sub-Governor.
3. Two Counsellors.

The directors general of the Bank attend the meetings of the Executive Commission, but without voice or vote. The Secretary of the Bank functions as secretary of the Executive Commission, but without voice or vote.

The two Counsellors who serve as members of the Executive Commission are designated by the Governing Council, after nomination by the Governor, from among their own members. The Governing Council consists of:

1. The Governor.
2. The Sub-Governor.
3. Six Counsellors.
4. The director general of the treasury and of financial policy.
5. The vice president of the Comisión Nacional Nacional del Mercado de Valores ("National Commission on Markets and Prices" [?]).

Council meetings are also attended by the directors general of the Bank and by a representative of bank personnel (elected by a means determined by the Bank's internal rules), both with voice, but without vote.

The Minister of Economy and Finance or the Secretario de Estado de Economía ("Secretary of State for the Economy" [?]) may also attend (with voice, but without vote) those meetings of the Governing Council which will deal with matters relevant to their portfolios. They may also submit a motion for consideration by the Council.

The Secretary of the Bank functions as secretary of the Executive Commission, but with voice but without vote.

References

• The Banco de España web site (in English) (http://www.bde.es/homee.htm)
• Besides the Bank's own web site, this article draws on the corresponding article in the Spanish-language Wikipedia. That, in turn, cites:
  • Miguel Martorell, Historia de la peseta: la España contemporánea a través de su moneda. Editorial Planeta S.A., ISBN 8408040871
  • Pedro Navascués Palacio, Summa Artis, Historia general del arte, Arquitectura española (1808-1914), tomo XXXV. Editorial Espasa Calpe.

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