"This additional capital opens the door to profitable growth, and allows us to invest in further cost reduction, and to become more efficient in the markets in which we operate, strengthening our leadership position," Torres told a remotely held shareholders' meeting.
BBVA has started talks to cut staff in Spain to better cope with stubbornly low interest rates and a shift towards online banking.
The merger will create the largest domestic bank by assets with a combined market value of more than 16 billion euros ($19 billion), in a deal underpinned by annual cost savings of 770 million euros, the companies said on Friday.
The negotiations between controlling shareholders in the two lenders are at very advanced stage on picking Valencia as the HQ though the agreeement has not been closed yet.
Details about what premium Caixabank would pay to buy out Bankia were also being discussed.