Spain's High Court orders BBVA and former chairman to stand trial in Villarejo corporate spying case
Judge Antonio Piña opened oral proceedings against Spain's second-largest bank and its former chairman Francisco González for bribery and disclosure of secrets linked to the Villarejo affair.
The court order
Judge Antonio Piña of Spain's Audiencia Nacional issued the order on 9 July 2026, sending BBVA, former chairman Francisco González and 14 other individuals to trial. The bank faces charges of bribery and 52 counts of revealing company secrets. González is accused of active and passive bribery, 42 counts of revealing secrets, criminal group membership, disloyal administration and document falsification.
The case stems from BBVA's hiring of Cenyt, a private investigation firm run by former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo, for assignments between 2004 and 2016 that prosecutors say were illegal. BBVA becomes the first Ibex 35 company to sit in the dock over the sprawling scandal.
Charges and penalties sought
Anti-corruption prosecutors are requesting a €181.8 million fine against the bank and a cumulative 173-year prison term for González, though Spanish law caps actual time served at 15 years. The judge also set a €1.73 million bond to cover civil liabilities, with a three-day deadline before asset seizure.
Other former executives ordered to stand trial include ex-CEO Ángel Cano, former presidency chief of staff Joaquín Gortari, ex-security head Julio Corrochano (a former police commissioner), longtime legal chief Eduardo Arbizu, former risk director Antonio Béjar, former legal manager José Manuel García Crespo and former contentious legal services director Eduardo Ortega Martín. Villarejo himself faces a requested 216-year sentence, while Corrochano faces 243 years.
BBVA's response
BBVA reiterated that it sees no criminal liability arising from the facts under investigation.
The bank noted that none of its current board members are involved. González, who stepped down as honorary chairman in March 2019 to shield the bank's reputation, has denied wrongdoing.The actions under investigation do not imply criminal liability for the bank.
Wider fallout
- BBVA allegedly hires Villarejo's firm Cenyt for illegal assignments including corporate espionage.
- Francisco González resigns as BBVA honorary chairman to protect the bank's reputation as the scandal erupts.
- Investigating judge Manuel García-Castellón issues an instruction order highlighting the gravity of BBVA's imputation.
- Villarejo is acquitted of charges related to work for Repsol and CaixaBank.
- Judge Antonio Piña opens oral trial against BBVA, González and 14 others.
The Villarejo affair has shaken Spain's corporate sector since 2019, causing reputational damage but no clear impact on business operations. Other blue-chip firms (Iberdrola, Repsol, CaixaBank) were investigated at earlier stages, but their cases were dropped. Last year Villarejo was acquitted of charges related to work for Repsol and CaixaBank aimed at gathering information on a former Sacyr Vallehermoso president.
