Banks in Málaga refunded €74,363 to their clients in 2025 after 364 estimated claims. Fraud with cards and transfers leads the complaints, and in 2026 claims have surged by 50%.
Banking clients in Málaga recovered €74,363 last year thanks to claims submitted to the Bank of Spain. The entity estimated 364 of the 1,101 complaints received, which averages €204.3 per user.
Málaga ranks sixth in the number of claims at the provincial level, in line with its demographic weight. The rate is six complaints per 10,000 inhabitants, the same as the Andalusian and national average. Provinces like Madrid (10) and Valladolid (9) double that figure.
The decrease in claims in 2025 was notable: 45% less at the national level, while in Málaga the drop was 32.5% compared to 2024. However, the first months of 2026 have reversed the trend with a 50% increase, driven mainly by fraud in digital payments and transfers.
Most claimed products and reasons
Cards account for 30.8% of complaints, mainly due to fraud or lack of documentation. They are followed by accounts, transfers, and debits (30%), with conflicts over fraudulent transfers and fees. Mortgage loans, although their weight decreased after the peak in 2024, still account for 23.7% of claims.
By themes, fraud tops the list with 27% of complaints. This is followed by formalisation costs (9.4%), fees and expenses (8.4%), information and documentation (8.1%), and cancellation (5.2%). The Bank of Spain points out that the increase in fraud in digital payments has displaced previous judicial disputes, such as mortgage costs.
Refunds: national record but modest figures in Málaga
At the national level, 2025 marked a record in refunds with €6.8 million returned and an average of €625 per claim. Málaga, however, fell far below: only 1.1% of the national total and an average of €204. In 2024, refunds in the province were higher: over €236,000 and an average of €640 per complaint, indicating that in 2025 claims focused on lower-value transactions.
For clients wishing to claim, the Bank of Spain reminds that it is a requirement to have previously submitted the complaint to the financial entity. Only 7% of claims reach the regulator. With the surge in fraud in 2026, it is advisable to frequently review bank movements and keep all documentation of transactions.
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