Consolidation

It had 141 Branches at the beginning of 1983, distributed between Bizkaia, Alava, Gipuzkoa and Nafarroa. And on April 13, 1982 was opened the first Office in Madrid.

Besides being the financial backing for the associated cooperatives, at that time it was given a boost by developing the business with private customers, with products such as financing in shops and mortgage loans.

In August 1983, after the Bilbao floods, the Branch at El Arenal was completely flooded, as was the Ipar Kutxa Branch.

Over these years, Caja Laboral was a great support for initiatives like Ikerlan (research), or Hezibide Elkartea, in the area of teaching and training.

It reached the figure of 1226 worker-shareholders in 1984.

A pioneering experience was set up with the Caja Laboral VISA Euskocard for payment at the 27 Eroski pay points in Vitoria-Gazteiz.

The group made a commitment to exports with Caja Laboral’s continuous financial support.

There were more than 600,000 Caja Laboral customers in 1986 and it continued the process of opening new Branches.

In 1986, the Euskotex service was set up, which was the precursor of CLnet, internet banking.

And at the end of 1987, the cooperative experience already provided 20,400 jobs between its companies, and the financial and business positions were consolidated.

Relations with the institutions took on greater importance. The loans quadrupled from 1985.

Contact began with many different small businesses.

Technological progress. Teleprocessing, the revolution had arrived.

Floods in Bilbao, 1983. Amongst mud, upturned tables and chairs, they continued to provide a service on the first floor.

Merger with Caja Rural de Alava, 1986. The small bank from Alava only had 2 branches.