 The gradual removal of regulatory barriers allowed the CECA, in periods of strong growth of the Spanish economy, to offer their associates access to shared resources including clearing activities, with the end result of achieving economies of scale that allowed independent savings banks the development of previously non-existent competitive capabilities.CECA extended the savings banks’ domestic and international influence and the ability to lobby on their behalf.Besides its attempts to counterbalance the commercial banks' cartel (CSB), CECA was used by the Spanish government to co-ordinate social charter investment (‘Obra Social’).