Between headlines of Bankia's demise and the growing deposit outflows from Spanish banks, perhaps the market is doing its job. According to the EC's Stability Report [7], via UBS, one measure of bank sector capacity and efficiency (population per bank branch) shows Spain in a dismal worst place with the least efficiency (or highest over-capacity). Of course, we would suspect that whatever state-funded reach-around bailout the Spanish government comes up with next will not contain a 'revert staff/branch levels to European norms' provision - better to pay up for mis-allocation of capital. Nonetheless, the large number of local bank branches in countries like Germany, France, Italy and Portugal indicates a potential for further consolidation and restructuring there also.
[8]
Source: EC Stability Report [7]