The Caja Rural Group has inaugurated a new technological center in Valladolid, driven by RSI, Rural Informatic Services S.L., its technology company. The space is established with a clear objective: to strengthen the development of solutions based on artificial intelligence and automation applied to the financial sector, while attracting local talent and consolidating the group’s presence in Castile and León.
The opening marks a significant step for RSI, which until now focused much of its activity in Madrid and is now reinforcing its distributed growth model with this new headquarters, also present in Bilbao. The company aims for Valladolid not to be just another office but a hub for innovation, collaboration with the university community, and the development of technological capabilities for rural savings banks.
A center to bring AI into real-world financial sector applications
The new Valladolid hub will focus on advanced technological solutions for cooperative banking, with special attention to intelligent process automation, advanced data analysis, and improving the customer experience. It’s not an abstract bet on artificial intelligence but rather applying these tools to concrete needs of financial entities that need to improve efficiency without losing touch with their clients.
RSI is a key component within the Caja Rural Group. The company manages a shared IT services center that includes systems, applications, and technological support for financial operations. According to data released at its inauguration, its technology supports 74 financial entities, is present in over 3,600 branches, and contributes to the digitalization of more than 8.4 million end customers. It also employs over 1,000 professionals.
This scale explains the importance of the new center. For a banking group with a strong regional presence, digitalization cannot be limited to large headquarters or centralized projects. Local banking requires digital channels, cybersecurity, automation, data analytics, and internal tools to serve clients better while maintaining the local connection that many rural savings banks are known for.
Artificial intelligence can assist in various areas: document classification, employee support, automation of repetitive tasks, risk analysis, pattern detection, process improvement, or personalizing digital services. However, in banking, adopting AI calls for caution. Data is sensitive, processes are regulated, and any automation must be traceable, secure, and understandable for the teams using it.
Valladolid as a strategic move for tech talent outside Madrid
The choice of Valladolid reflects a regional strategy. RSI explained that the new site is part of a plan to decentralize talent search outside Madrid, support the economic development of Castile and León, and engage with the local university environment. The company had already been collaborating with regional universities through internships, final-year projects, and activities aimed at improving employability.
This is especially relevant now, as many tech companies compete for the same profiles in major cities. Cities like Valladolid offer an attractive combination: universities, quality of life, more affordable costs, and a pool of professionals who may prefer not to relocate to Madrid or Barcelona for a tech career.
The new hub also enhances RSI’s employer branding. The company aims to establish a stable, collaborative work environment connected to the territory in Castilla y León. In fields like artificial intelligence, automation, or software engineering, attracting talent involves more than opening positions—it requires offering meaningful projects, learning opportunities, stability, and a work culture that doesn’t feel like a remote extension of the headquarters.
During the inauguration, representatives from several rural savings banks in Castilla y León attended, including Cipriano García, General Director of Caja Rural de Zamora; Domingo Barca, from Caja Rural de Soria; José Ignacio Juez, from Caja Rural Salamanca; and Ramón Sobremonte, from Caja Viva, who is also a member of RSI’s Board of Directors. Their presence underscores that the project is viewed not only as a technological decision but as a joint regional investment by the group.
Close-to-customer technology for a bank competing digitally
The challenge for Caja Rural and RSI is shared across the entire financial sector: to combine trust, extensive regional presence, and competitive digital services. Customers now expect to operate from their mobile devices, sign documents easily, receive prompt responses, and access reliable online services. At the same time, many rural savings banks maintain close relationships with municipalities, freelancers, cooperatives, families, and SMEs that value personal attention.
Technology should serve to strengthen these relationships, not replace them uncritically. That’s why automation and AI make the most sense when they free up time from repetitive tasks, improve data quality, or assist in making better decisions. In a financial institution, useful innovation isn’t always the most visually impressive; it’s the one that reduces errors, speeds up processes, and improves service without losing control.
Alberto Wattenberg, RSI’s Valladolid office director, highlighted that the city allows attracting specialized talent and creating a collaborative environment where technology and innovation enhance service for the group. Carlos Cervero, RSI’s General Director, noted that the hub reflects Caja Rural Group’s commitment to sustainable growth, based on people and close ties to the territory.
The opening of the Valladolid tech center also comes at a time when banking is accelerating the use of artificial intelligence with a greater focus on practical cases. Experimenting in labs is no longer enough—entities need solutions that can be integrated into real processes, meet regulatory requirements, protect data, and add measurable value.
For Castile and León, the new hub represents an opportunity to retain talent and connect qualified employment with a deeply rooted financial sector. For RSI, it’s a way to expand capabilities and reach new professional profiles. For Caja Rural Group, it underscores an important idea: proximity banking must also adopt advanced technology if it wishes to remain competitive in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has Caja Rural inaugurated in Valladolid?
The Caja Rural Group, through RSI, has inaugurated a new technology hub focused on artificial intelligence and automation for the financial sector.
What is RSI within the Caja Rural Group?
RSI, Rural Informatic Services S.L., is the Group’s technology company responsible for common IT services, systems, and applications for financial entities.
What will the new Valladolid hub work on?
It will focus on intelligent process automation, advanced data analysis, AI solutions, and improving digital services for rural savings banks.
Why was Valladolid chosen?
The decision aligns with a strategy of distributed growth, attracting local talent, collaborating with universities, and reinforcing Castilla and León as a technological hub.
Source: LinkedIn