Bankinter chief executive Gloria Ortiz has publicly defended the conduct of Spanish lenders amid a widening antitrust investigation by the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC).
Speaking at the bank’s semi-annual results presentation, Ortiz rejected suggestions that the Bank of Spain should impose stricter limits on the issuance of high-risk mortgages, arguing that the banking sector has acted correctly throughout the process.
The comments come as the CNMC expands its scrutiny of the Spanish mortgage market.
The regulator has broadened its probe to target intermediaries for suspected price-fixing, marking a significant escalation in the dispute.
This move intensifies pressure on lenders who have long faced allegations of anti-competitive practices in loan origination and fee structures.
The Spanish banking industry is bracing for a potential resolution to this protracted regulatory conflict.