Ángel Rivera, former CEO of Banco Santander España, recalls his nearly six and a half years at Banco Popular as a period of great intensity, marked by the influence of Luis Valls, whom he describes as “a unique banker.”

For Rivera, Luis Valls was a strategist who knew every detail of the bank and led it with integrity, dedication, and seriousness. His education and attentiveness toward people made him an exemplary and deeply respected leader.

One of the traits that distinguished him was his gestures of consideration toward those around him. For instance, Rivera recounts that on St. Peter’s Day, instead of entering through the garage, he would come in through the main entrance of the Beatriz building to congratulate Pedro, the receptionist who had worked there for many years. With these small gestures, he earned the affection and respect of everyone.

Valls divided his time between Madrid, where he worked on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the town of San Rafael in Segovia, the rest of the week. At that time, before the internet, Ángel Rivera notes that they used to travel “with between 7 and 10 suitcases full of papers,” demonstrating the meticulousness and commitment with which Valls approached his work.

“For me, he was a true visionary in some respects. He was very obsessed, in a positive sense, with efficiency. Making things effective, without large committees,” says Ángel Rivera.

One of the anecdotes that impacted Ángel Rivera the most during his first year at Banco Popular happened when Luis Valls asked how much money they had in the account. After checking, Rivera replied that they had 143 million pesetas. Valls’s reaction was unexpected: he said they had to “start from scratch” and “help was needed.” With that conviction, Valls donated the entire amount, demonstrating his austerity, generosity, and a strong sense of social responsibility.

“There’s rarely a day when I don’t think of him or mention some anecdote,” Rivera confesses. “And when you talk to people who have already retired from the bank, they still talk about him.” With these words, Ángel Rivera underscores the lasting legacy of Luis Valls and the impact he left on those who had the opportunity to work alongside him.