It is also seeking to increase the number of clients in France to 4 million by end-2024 from 1.5 million currently.

Nickel accounts are available at more than 5,000 tobacconists in France, as the bank seeks to lure people who may be unable to open a traditional bank account.

Nickel said that apart from Spain, it is looking at expanding in Portugal, Belgium, Italy and Austria.

(Reporting by Maya Nikolaeva; Editing by Sarah White)