Joan Quera Font, Andorra Banking Leader, Dies at 69

Joan Quera Font, a prominent figure in Andorra's banking industry and former general manager of Banc Internacional-Banca Mora, died on Friday in Barcelona at the age of 69.

Quera moved to Andorra in 2003 from BBVA's central services, where he had worked as deputy general manager responsible for retail banking risks in Spain and Portugal. His career previously included roles at Bankinter and Argentaria, which merged into BBVA. From 2003 to 2011, he served as general manager and later executive general manager of Banc Internacional-Banca Mora, guiding the bank through its full transition to Andorran ownership. In 2006, the founding Mora and Aristot families bought out BBVA's stake, which the Spanish group had held since 1970. Under his leadership, the bank expanded internationally and pursued a 2007 merger with Andbank that collapsed despite early announcements and preparations.

Quera retired early from BBVA in 2011 under existing agreements and handed over the general manager position to Gilles Serra, then from Crédit Agricole Private Banking España. He stayed on MoraBanc's board—following the bank's rebranding—until 2015 and again from 2018 to 2021. In 2015, while not on the board, he joined Carles Salvadó and Santiago Guillén as one of three administrators for Banca Privada d'Andorra (BPA) after government intervention triggered by a US FinCEN notice that effectively closed the bank. He took leave from MoraBanc for the short-term role, which ended with the creation of the Agency for the Resolution of Banking Entities (AREB). Afterward, Andorran Financial Authority (INAF) clauses blocked his return to MoraBanc despite his intentions, leading to reported friction with bank executives and the regulator.

The wake is scheduled for today, 18 January, starting at 12:30pm in Sala 2 of Barcelona's Sant Gervasi funeral home and running until 11am on 19 January. The funeral service follows at the same location at 11am on 19 January.