CaixaBank creates Spain's first banking application for the Apple Watch

• The bank has extended its range of services for smartwatches, ahead of the imminent launch of Apple's new product in Spain.

CaixaBank has become the first bank in Spain to create an application for the Apple Watch. The new app is now available via the Apple App Store and the bank's own CaixaMóvil Store, ensuring that users can download it the moment the device is launched on the Spanish market.

The first service adapted by CaixaBank for Apple Watch is the branch and ATM search tool. Customers can use the same to find the exact locations of the nearest branches and cash machines via smartwatches, including a map display to make them easier to locate. The Apple Watch will also show information on each branch and details of the services that they provide, as well as accessibility information, opening hours and contact telephone numbers.

The Apple Watch application is one of CaixaBank's new wearable banking services for smartwatches. The bank, overseen by Chairman Isidro Fainé and CEO Gonzalo Gortázar, was the world's first bank to adopt such devices as a channel to provide banking services. It currently offers an app for the Sony Smartwatch 2, which has been downloaded more than 5,000 times and won the 2014 The Banker award for Best innovation in delivery channels.

Furthermore, new digital banking channels have not been limited to wearable devices. At the 2015 Mobile World Congress CaixaBank unveiled a mobile application compatible with Ford SYNC with AppLink software, providing services via Ford vehicles that are equipped with smart systems.

CaixaBank, leader in digital banking

Pioneering digital banking services is at the heart of CaixaBank's innovation strategy. The bank now has more than 4 million mobile service customers, 3.4 million of whom regularly use the Línea Abierta application. Overall CaixaBank processes 120 million mobile transactions on a monthly basis, of which 33% involve fund transfers. The bank also has 70 applications available, which have been downloaded more than 10 million times.

CaixaBank is considered one of the leading mobile financial service providers. It is the world's second best provider of mobile banking services according to the 2014 Global Mobile Banking Functionality Benchmark report by Forrester, based on evaluations of mobile applications provided by 32 major banks across Europe, America and Australia.

This recognition follows other international innovation accolades given to the bank. CaixaBank recently won the Innovative Spirit in Banking award at the 2014 Global Banking Innovation Awards.