The euro zone second-biggest lender by market value also said that the lender's executive chair Ana Botin is expected to confirm at the bank's annual shareholders meeting on Friday that it is on track to meet its 2024 targets.

Shareholders are also expected to approve a total shareholder remuneration of 5.5 billion euros against its record 2023 results.

($1 = 0.9235 euros)

(Reporting by Jesús Aguado; editing by Emma Pinedo)