GRUPO FINANCIERO ATLÁNTIDA, CON SEDE EN HONDURAS, GALARDONADO POR CECA CON EL PREMIO HONORÍFICO “INICIATIVA SOCIAL Y TRAYECTORIA INTERNACIONAL”

• CECA is the banking association that advocates for the interests of savings banks and the banks created by them, promoting their mission through financial activities and Social Work initiatives.
• Through the Fundación Fondo Cultural Bancatlan, the CECA Award in the honorary category "International Award to the Best Social Contribution" was granted, recognizing its efforts in education, culture, and social development.
• The Fundación Fondo Cultural Bancatlan was established in 1976 in Tegucigalpa, aiming to channel its resources and efforts into supporting initiatives with educational, cultural, moral, civic, charitable, and sports-related purposes.

Madrid, December 2024.– Grupo Financiero Atlántida (GFA), with headquarters in Honduras and operating in six countries, was honored by the Confederación Española de Cajas de Ahorro (CECA) at the recent “CECA Awards for Social Work and Financial Education 2024.” The award, presented to the Fundación Fondo Cultural Bancatlan, recognized its outstanding contributions in education, culture, and social development under the category of “Social Initiative and International Trajectory.”

The award ceremony took place at the Royal Casino of Madrid, with notable attendees including the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, representatives from the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) and CECA, as well as presidents and directors of affiliated foundations. Representing Grupo Financiero Atlántida were Faustino Laínez, President of the Fundación Fondo Cultural Bancatlan, Fernando de Mergelina, President of Pacific Bank (a GFA subsidiary), and Rafael Gómez Perezagua, President of EBN Banco, in which the Group holds a stake.

“I am really thankful to CECA and WSBI for this honorable distinction and recognition of our vision and work. This achievement would not be possible without the collective effort—from the leadership of Mr. Guillermo Bueso, who heads Grupo Financiero Atlántida, to the directors and volunteers of the Group who dedicate their energy to the various causes we support,” highlighted Laínez.

This recognition highlights Grupo Financiero Atlántida’s commitment to driving meaningful social change through education, culture, and development initiatives across the regions where it operates.

Support for Education, Culture, and Social Well-Being

The Fundación Fondo Cultural Bancatlan was established in 1976 in Tegucigalpa as an initiative of the Board of Directors of Banco Atlántida in Honduras. Its purpose is to channel its resources and efforts to support initiatives with educational, cultural, moral, civic, charitable, and sports-oriented objectives.

Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal of Quality Education, this year, in partnership with the Asociación Colaboración y Esfuerzo (ACOES), more than 800 scholarships have been awarded. Additionally, cultural activities have been organized, hosting hundreds of individuals through tours and events in collaboration with various educational institutions across the country.

In the cultural domain, the Museo Virtual Banco Atlántida showcases over 3,000 years of history through a rich, multidisciplinary collection that preserves national heritage. Its mission is to disseminate ongoing research to national and international audiences and serve as an information portal for researchers exploring themes related to the collection. Learn more at: www.museobancoatlantida.com.

Banco Atlántida’s cultural legacy began with the acquisition of archaeological pieces to protect national heritage and prevent their export, ensuring future generations can connect with their history. From its early days, the bank has also promoted Honduran artists who achieved global recognition. Today, it preserves over 3,000 years of history through one of the country’s most comprehensive cultural collections, which includes painting, archaeology, numismatics, and institutional history.

Furthermore, to support the well-being of the most vulnerable, the bank collaborated with Duke Heart for Honduras, an initiative involving physicians from institutions like Duke Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Honduras Medical Center, Hospital Escuela, the National Cardiopulmonary Institute, and the Honduran Red Cross. This collaboration has enabled complex cardiovascular interventions, benefiting low-income patients over the past two years.

Grupo Financiero Atlántida and the Fondo Cultural Bancatlan Foundation reaffirm their commitment to Honduras' social development and pledge to continue working tirelessly as agents of transformation in the country and the region.

About Grupo Financiero Atlántida

It is a financial organization renowned for its stability and leadership, backed by over 111 years of experience, with more than 260 offices and 6,000 employees. Adding to this is its prominent position in the management of pension and investment funds in some of the countries where they operate. The Group reinforces its commitment to contributing to the growth and development of the markets in which it participates through activities in key economic sectors such as banking, insurance, pensions and severance funds, leasing, brokerage, investment management, among others.

About Confederación Española de Cajas de Ahorros (CECA)

CECA is the banking association that advocates for the interests of savings banks and the banks created by them, promoting their mission through their financial activities and Social Work initiatives.