Responsabilidad social corporativa y resultado financiero: evidencia sobre la doble dirección de la causalidad en el sector de las Cajas de Ahorros

In contrast with other financial institutions in Spain, Saving Banks play a social function as well as a financial function. Considering this fact, and the limited evidence up to date, our paper aims to make an in-depth study of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-financial performance relationship in this sector. More specifically, the main goal is to analyze such a relationship in both directions, trying to overcome the major limitations of previous studies. After employing different panel data methods (1996-2006), results showed a negative interactive relationship between CSR, measured as «obra social» — a CSR practice that incurs a cost for the Saving Banks — and financial performance, measured as ROA (return on assets) and ROE (return on equity). Consequently, results support the negative synergy hypothesis in Spanish Saving Banks.