Institutions born in Italy
The first monte de piedad was founded in Perugia in 1462. In Spain, the Madrid one dates back to 1702 and the initiative of Padre Piquer. Today's montes stem from the former cajas de ahorros and operate on a not-for-profit basis.
A declared social mission
According to an elEconomista article republished in 2022 by the Fundación Ibercaja, the montes reinvest their profits in social programmes. This sets them apart from gold-buying firms, which purchase the item instead of holding it on deposit.
The Monte de Piedad de CaixaBank
CaixaBank runs a Monte de Piedad whose flagship product is the préstamo sobre joyas, a loan secured on jewellery. The maximum amount is set after a tasación, that is an appraisal, as with jewellery pawn loans in France.
Four offices and early hours
The offices are in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. They open Monday to Friday from 8.15 am to 2.30 pm, and on Thursdays from October to April from 4.15 pm to 6.30 pm. Appointments can be booked online.
An account required above 1,000 euros
For any transaction above €1,000, CaixaBank requires the borrower to hold a current account with the bank. Below that threshold, the page consulted on 9 October 2026 does not mention this account-opening condition.
One year, renewable once
The loan is granted for one year and can be extended by a further year; early repayment is allowed. CaixaBank publishes neither a nominal rate nor a TAE (the Spanish APR) on the préstamo sobre joyas page: ask for them at the office before signing.
What the rules of operation say
The Reglamento de operaciones admits bienes muebles de lícito comercio, meaning movable goods that may lawfully be traded. Its articles 2 and 9 specify, however, that the Monte sets the accepted categories and is never obliged to take an item.
An unpublished loan percentage
Article 11 limits the capital lent to a percentage of the appraised value set at any time by the Monte, with no public figure. Article 14 makes fees and taxes payable by the borrower and allows them to be deducted from the capital paid out.
The subasta and the right to the surplus
Without repayment, the jewellery goes to subasta, after the catalogue is displayed at least a week beforehand (article 24). If the price exceeds the debt and fees, the sobrante remains available to the debtor, unless judicially withheld (article 22), with no claim deadline set.
The Madrid Monte in dated figures
According to the 2022 article, the Monte of the Fundación Montemadrid then handled 49% of Spanish transactions with six offices. In Madrid, rates ranged from 5% to 8.25% and the average loan reached €640, from €20 to several thousand.
97% of pledges recovered
The same source stated that 97% of items pledged in Spain are recovered by their owners, a rate worth comparing with the auction of pledged items in France. The current link between Montemadrid and CaixaBank's Madrid office is not verified.
Jewellery yes, cars no
What Spanish montes take is chiefly jewellery, silverware, artworks and antiques. Vehicles are not on the list: empeño de coche is the business of private companies, as explained on our page about empeño de auto in Spain.
Spanish montes and institutions
- Monte de Piedad de CaixaBank: Jewellery loans in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, for one year renewable once.
- Monte de la Fundación Montemadrid: Madrid monte founded in 1702; in 2022 it handled 49% of Spanish transactions with six offices.
- Banco de España: Spain's central bank; its Cliente Bancario portal defines the garantía pignoraticia and the role of the tasación.
Getting a préstamo sobre joyas, step by step
- Book an appointment online or by phone at one of the offices in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville or Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
- Bring the jewellery and an identity document; above €1,000, have a current account open with CaixaBank.
- Attend the tasación, then ask for the percentage applied, the rate and the fees, which are not published online.
- Sign the one-year contract and keep the papeleta de empeño, the pawn ticket provided for in the rules, in a safe place.
- Repay before the due date to recover the jewellery, or request the extension of one further year.
- In the event of a subasta, check the catalogue displayed a week beforehand and then claim any sobrante.
Known costs at Spanish montes
| Item | Monte de Piedad de CaixaBank | Dated Spanish benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Interest rate | Not published, according to the Monte's schedule | 5% to 8.25% in Madrid in 2022 |
| Share of value lent | Percentage set by the Monte (article 11) | Not published |
| Fees and taxes | Payable by the borrower (article 14) | May be deducted from the capital |
| Term | 1 year, plus a 1-year extension | Early repayment possible |
| Average loan | Not disclosed by CaixaBank | €640 in Madrid in 2022 |
What to bring to the Monte
- Valid identity document
- Jewellery to be appraised
- CaixaBank current account for a transaction above €1,000
- Appointment confirmation
- Papeleta de empeño for any later transaction
Mistakes to avoid at the Monte de Piedad
- Turning up with your car or an electronic device: the CaixaBank Monte offers only a jewellery loan online and may refuse any item.
- Forgetting that fees and taxes can be deducted directly from the capital, which reduces the sum actually paid out.
- Failing to claim the sobrante after a subasta, even though the Monte holds it at the debtor's disposal.
- Confusing a not-for-profit monte de piedad with a gold-buying firm that acquires the jewellery permanently.
- Arriving in the afternoon on an ordinary day: the offices close at 2.30 pm, except on Thursdays from October to April.
The monte de piedad explained simply
What is a monte de piedad in Spain?
It is the Spanish equivalent of the Mont-de-Piété: a not-for-profit body, descended from the former savings banks, that lends money against the deposit of a valuable item, mostly jewellery. The CaixaBank Monte operates in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
What is the Monte de Piedad de CaixaBank's rate?
CaixaBank publishes neither a rate nor a TAE on its préstamo sobre joyas page, consulted on 9 October 2026. As a dated benchmark, a 2022 article reported rates of 5% to 8.25% at the Madrid Monte of the Fundación Montemadrid.
What happens if I do not repay the Monte de Piedad?
The jewellery is sold at auction, in a subasta, after the catalogue is published at least a week beforehand. If the price exceeds the debt and fees, CaixaBank pays out the difference, which its rules call the sobrante and hold at the debtor's disposal.
How long does a jewellery loan last in Spain?
At the Monte de Piedad de CaixaBank, the loan lasts one year and can be extended by a further year. Early repayment is possible at any time. Without repayment at the end of the term, the jewellery goes into a subasta.
Do you need to be a CaixaBank customer to borrow from the Monte?
For a transaction above €1,000, CaixaBank requires a current account with the bank. The page consulted does not set this condition for smaller amounts, but it is still worth confirming when booking the appointment.
Official sources
Reglamento de operaciones del Monte de Piedad de CaixaBankmontedepiedad.caixabank.es
Monte de Piedad CaixaBank, subastas y préstamosmontedepiedad.caixabank.es
Ibercaja Agroinforma, montes de piedad (2022)agroinforma.ibercaja.es
General information, up to date as of October 2026 and non-contractual: always check the terms with the Crédit Municipal or the institution concerned.