Climate change is “probably the greatest business disruption humankind has ever faced,” BBVA Group executive chairman Carlos Torres Vila said at the Madrid Climate Change Conference. That’s why “sustainability is a core part of our strategy. The future of finance lies in financing the future,” he stressed.

The climate summit in Madrid kicks off with a reception for world leaders who, over the course of the next few days, will discuss the environmental challenges confronting the planet. BBVA sponsors the inaugural lunch with a sustainable menu designed by the brothers of El Celler de Can Roca. The chefs from Spain’s northeastern city of Girona have created a culinary overture to invite reflection on some of the most relevant topics to be addressed at the summit.

BBVA will actively participate in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 25), which will be held in Madrid, starting on Monday, December 2. Some of the confirmed events include a round table discussion where BBVA Group executive chairman Carlos Torres Vila – together with representatives from other banks – will discuss new climate leadership. In addition, there will be a sustainable meal, sponsored by BBVA and prepared by the Roca brothers for heads of state and government officials.

BBVA’s Group executive chairman participated in the Money 20/20 conference on financial technologies in Las Vegas, Nevada (U.S.), one of the most  important global events that brings together leading actors from the fintech and financial services industries. There he reiterated the need for “global, cross sector regulation” that fosters data exchange among different companies. “Customers must be the real winners,” insisted Torres Vila, stressing the idea that the free flow of data would facilitate the development of new services that will benefit citizens, society and the planet.

This week, Carlos Torres Vila attended the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Institute of International Finance (IIF) in Washington. BBVA’s Group executive chairman participated in a panel discussion on banking in the digital age, where he stated that: “Technology is a very powerful lever for financial inclusion. It allows us to reach people we never could before.”

BBVA Group executive chairman Carlos Torres Vila, CEO Onur Genç, and the Country Manager of BBVA Spain, Cristina de Parias met on Friday with the bank’s management team in Catalonia to discuss the challenges and opportunities this territory offers. More than 60 percent of Catalan companies are BBVA clients. The bank will continue putting the focus on connecting with its clients and customers.

Climate change, the biodiversity crisis and inequality pose “the greatest sustainability challenges in the coming years,” according to BBVA Group executive chairman Carlos Torres Vila. “Addressing the most important challenges humanity has ever faced is in our hands, and the future will depend on what we do now. For banks, the future of banking lies in financing the future.” Given all of these challenges “companies cannot simply stand by,” he emphasized at an event held by the SERES Foundation in Madrid on Tuesday.

More than 126,000 BBVA employees spent the day re-familiarizing themselves with, assimilating, and living the corporate values, which represent a fulcrum to the bank’s cultural transformation. Over the course of the day, bank employees participated in workshops and activities that reinforced the central pillars underpinning the bank’s mission, “to bring the age of opportunity to everyone.” This year’s event also included participation from the network of sales teams, who developed special activities to enhance an understanding of how they can help customers on a day-to-day basis.

BBVA Chairman Carlos Torres Vila participated this weekend at the annual meeting of the International Advisory Panel (IAP) of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He was was also invited to The Singapore Summit, an event that focuses on Asia’s role as a global driver of growth.

BBVA’s Group executive chairman announced today that the bank’s goal is for all products to offer a sustainable option – both for large corporations and institutions, and SMEs and individual customers. The bank plans to reach this goal throughout 2020 for its main products sold in Spain.

BBVA executive chairman Carlos Torres Vila met today with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the National Palace in Mexico City. Torres Vila conveyed BBVA Group’s commitment with Mexico to the Mexican president and announced an investment of 63 billion pesos (about €2.9 billion at today’s exchange rate) for the 2019-2024 period. During that time, BBVA will continue to contribute to Mexico’s economic growth by providing loans to families and businesses.

BBVA Executive Chairman Carlos Torres Vila has reiterated the importance of the bank operating globally if it is to meet its purpose of bringing the age of opportunity to everyone.

BBVA Group Executive Chairman Carlos Torres Vila underscored the Group’s strong commitment to Mexico today. Speaking at the bank’s annual Meeting of Regional Advisors, he noted that the Group has made considerable investments in the country, while sharing its expertise and talent, always focusing on the goal of creating opportunities for Mexican companies, families and its society as a whole. “Mexico has grown with BBVA, and BBVA has grown with Mexico,” he said.

• Transformation: BBVA continued to make progress in its transformation, with a clear impact on growth of its customer base, productivity, efficiency and customer experience. Digital unit sales now account for 57 percent of the total and over half of the customers use digital channels to interact with the bank

• Efficiency: Positive top-line trends in the P&L account, together with an ongoing focus on cost reduction, led to double-digit growth in operating income compared to the first quarter 2018 in constant euros, and an improvement in the efficiency ratio, which dropped 118 basis points since December, to 48.1 percent

• Risk management: The NPL ratio remained at 3.9 percent, while the coverage ratio improved to 74 percent. The cost of risk stood at 1.06 percent

• Capital adequacy: The fully-loaded CET1 capital ratio closed the quarter at 11.35 percent, inching closer to the target of 11.5 to 12 percent, fully absorbing IFRS 16 impact
Profitability: BBVA continued to be a leader in profitability, with ROE standing at 9.9 percent, and ROTE at 11.9 percent, well above the average of its European peers

• Value creation for the shareholder: The tangible book value plus dividends per share rose 11 percent from a year earlier

• Board of Directors: At its meeting today, the Board also approved a series of agreements related to appointments and its committees

BBVA Group Executive Chairman Carlos Torres Vila was responsible for welcoming participants to the 87th edition of the Endeavor’s ‘International Selection Panel’, which is currently taking place in Madrid. Entrepreneurs have a really important role:  they can drive the society creating wealth and jobs, increasing competitiveness and fostering better use of resources,” said Torres Vila.

It isn’t easy to live in Soacha. Despite being close to Bogota, basic services like running water are not available on a daily basis and the streets of this town, one of the most impoverished in Colombia, are known for their insecurity and lack of infrastructure. But everything is possible with an opportunity and enthusiasm and Jessica Hernandez is the perfect example of this. BBVA’s Group executive chairman wanted to meet the entrepreneur whose story was heard around the world following her speech at the United Nations during a BBVA Microfinance Foundation event.

At an event organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, BBVA’s Group executive chairman presented Openmind’s new book, ‘Towards a New Enlightenment? A Transcendent Decade‘. Carlos Torres Vila and two contributing authors, Joanna Bryson and Sandy Pentland, discussed the implications of big data and artificial intelligence in the current technological context and its role in the so-called fourth industrial revolution.

At his first Annual General Meeting (AGM) as Group executive chairman of BBVA, Carlos Torres Vila was re-elected as a Board member with more than 98 percent of the votes, according to the definitive data of the votation. The shareholders meeting in Bilbao today also supported the appointment of Onur Genç as a Board member of the BBVA Group with 99 percent of the votes. A large number of institutional and minority shareholders participated in the voting, with a quorum over 64 percent.

BBVA Group Executive Chairman Carlos Torres Vila, made reference to the CENYT case on March 15, in the context of the Group’s Annual General Meeting. This is the exact transcription of his statements.

Carlos Torres Vila, Group executive chairman

• Impact on society: “The future of banking lies in financing the future. At BBVA we want to define the new way of banking that the communities we serve are calling for and need”

• Transformation: “In 2018 we reached a pivotal milestone: to surpass the threshold of 50 percent digital customers”

• Dividend: “The strong results allow us to increase the dividend. At this Annual General Meeting, BBVA is proposing a complementary dividend of €0.16 per share, to be paid in April this year.” The total dividend for the year amounts to €0.26 per share, a 37 percent payout of the bank’s profit

Onur Genç, Chief executive officer

• Digitization: “We began our transformation ahead of the curve, and we are already reaping the benefits of this foresight”

BBVA shareholders have an appointment this Friday at the Euskalduna Concert Center in Bilbao, Spain. Starting at 12:00 CET, Group Executive Chairman Carlos Torres Vila and CEO Onur Genç will take stock of 2018 and offer their vision of 2019.

The BBVA Foundation will present its most prestigious awards in Bilbao on June 18th.  The eight category winners will be honored at the 11th Frontiers of Knowledge Awards ceremony, which will be hosted at the Euskalduna Palace. “Linking the Frontiers of Knowledge Awards to Bilbao, the city and its institutions become the hosts of an event that celebrates knowledge with world leading figures in different fields of science, technology and the arts,” said BBVA Foundation President Carlos Torres Vila.

BBVA Group executive chairman Carlos Torres Vila took advantage of Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra’s visit to Spain to confirm BBVA’s commitment to the country. The bank has had a presence in Peru for nearly 25 years now. “We want to foster access to banking services in Peru through universal, customer-oriented banking,” said the BBVA chairman.

Carlos Torres Vila presented BBVA’s 2018 earnings in his first press conference as chairman of the bank. He stressed that the “positive results” were sustained by recurring revenues, cost containment efforts and the strength of the Group’s diversified business model. During the presentation, he also addressed the news published in some media outlets regarding services provided by Grupo Cenyt. The chairman made appeals not to “prejudge” the alleged news and to let the BBVA investigation “do its job”, which will be conducted with “rigor, diligence, and thoroughness” in order to shed light on the facts. In addition, he made assurances that “BBVA has been, is, and will continue to be an honest bank”

• Transformation: More than half of BBVA customers are digital, meeting the target set for 2018
• Income: Operating income grew 6.2 percent at constant exchange rates, thanks to the increase in recurring revenues and cost discipline
• Risks: BBVA showed strength in risk indicators, with an NPL ratio declining to 3.9 percent, and a coverage ratio of 73 percent
• Solvency: At the end of December, the fully-loaded CET1 ratio stood at 11.3 percent
• Shareholder value creation: The tangible book value per share plus dividends grew 10.1 percent in 2018, while the ROE increased to 11.6 percent
• Dividend: A cash payment in a gross amount of €0.16 per share, to be paid in April as final dividend for 2018, is expected to be proposed for the consideration of the competent governing bodies

BBVA’s Group Executive Chairman Carlos Torres Vila explained just why cooperation between banks and the fintech ecosystem is key. He also made a powerful case for a G20 coordinated approach to digital regulation to foster innovation and drive competition at an event in Paris, alongside the IMF managing director, Christine Lagarde.

Dear team:

I am writing to you in relation to the recent pieces of news that are affecting us so much. Everyone at BBVA is shocked by the information reported which started on January 9. These pieces of news link BBVA to the monitoring or interception of private communications. If true, it would be undoubtedly extremely serious, deplorable behavior, radically opposed to what we are and what we stand for, and, ultimately, to the values ​​of BBVA that move us every day.

Carlos Torres Vila is, first and foremost, a great strategist. He’s capable of looking at any issue, delving into it until he unravels its complexity and understands all the details. He can then translate his insights into something that’s easy to understand. Once he’s made up his mind, he makes a decision and concentrates on executing on his idea. He fully relies on his teams: He makes sure that everyone who is seated at the table – regardless of seniority, responsibility or age – takes part in the conversation. He encourages everyone to share their opinions, and he values bright ideas.

Francisco González was greeted warmly by the auditorium at Ciudad BBVA in Madrid where he was bid farewell with applause and a standing ovation. The bank’s executive chairman was interviewed by his successor, Carlos Torres Vila, in a memorable conversation that the Group employees could follow from more than 30 countries. After 22 years at the helm of the bank that has become BBVA, Francisco González declared that “with much effort,” the legacy he leaves behind is “a bank in solid financial shape, an extraordinary project, and an absolutely exceptional team.”

BBVA has received all the required administrative authorizations from the European Central Bank (ECB) for the resolutions approved by the Board of Directors of BBVA at its meeting held on Dec. 20, 2018, to come into full effect.

Carlos Torres Vila took part in the ‘14th Banking Industry Meeting’ organized by IESE and EY in Madrid. BBVA’s CEO spoke about how digital transformation reflects on the outside, but originates inside organizations. In the current environment, he believes that banks need to harness the potential of new technologies to create opportunities for their customers. “We think big, not only in the sense of being ambitious, but of being innovative, breaking molds and surprising the customer,” he said.

BBVA’s CEO recently spoke at the DeustoForum in Bilbao. Carlos Torres Vila discussed BBVA’s transformation strategy in front of an audience of the Basque business community and current Deusto University students and alumni. “In today’s world opportunities are digital. That’s why we focus on the digitization of our customers, providing channels that are always available and a simple, agile experience,” he maintained.

At a press conference Carlos Torres Vila released BBVA’s earnings for the January-September 2018 period. The forthcoming decision on who should pay the levy on documenting mortgages loans – banks or the customers – which is due to be made by Spain’s Supreme Court on November 5, was raised during the presentation. In regard to the possibility of the ruling being retroactive, he stated “You can’t penalize those who have followed the law. This is precisely what the principle of legal certainty embodies, which protects us all.”

BBVA today presented its earnings for the January-September 2018 period. What stands out in the bank’s quarterly financials? In the words of BBVA CEO Carlos Torres Vila: “In spite of a challenging situation in Turkey and Argentina, the results we are presenting today reveal the strength of our business model and geographic diversification.”

• Transformation: Digital and mobile customers as well as digital sales continued to grow across all geographies, with a positive impact on efficiency. Digital customers now account for 49% of the total, very close to the year-end target of having half of the customers banking through digital channels
• Income: Operating income improved (+5.8 percent at constant exchange rates), driven by a positive trend in recurring revenues and containment in operating expenses. BBVA’s ROE between January and September was 12.2 percent, with ROTE standing at 14.8 percent
• Risks: The NPL ratio was 4.1 percent in September (4.4 percent in June). Coverage ratio reached 73 percent
• Capital: Despite a complex environment, the fully-loaded CET1 ratio stood at 11.34 percent. During the first nine months of the year, the tangible book value per share plus dividends grew 7.2 percent to €5.95

BBVA’s CEO, Carlos Torres Vila, has spoken of the great impact entrepreneurs bring to society at the opening of Spain’s biggest startup conference.

After ten years with BBVA Group, the last three and a half as CEO, Carlos Torres Vila is expected to replace Francisco González as the bank’s executive chairman on January 1, 2019. We spoke with Carlos about his vision and future plans for the Group.

On December 31, 2018, Francisco González will step down as BBVA Group Executive Chairman, after 18 years at the helm of the bank and almost four more as Chairman of Argentaria. Following the Board’s announcement regarding the approval of the chairman’s succession plan, we sit down with him for an hour to talk about the meaning of his decision.

The Board of Directors of BBVA approved the succession plan for the company’s chairman. The plan establishes that CEO Carlos Torres Vila is to replace Francisco González as group executive chairman when he leaves his post, which is expected to take place on Dec. 31st, 2018. The succession ensures the continuity of the transformation process which has placed BBVA at the forefront of the global financial industry.

In the presentation of its results to the media, BBVA’s CEO Carlos Torres Vila emphasized the bank’s “strong push to business digitization not only drives sales but is fundamental to cost control.” This “digital push” is driving total revenues while keeping costs down. As a whole, this allows efficiency to continue to improve. In fact, the efficiency ratio stood at 49.2 percent as of June, 82 basis points below the figure for 2017 at constant exchange rates.

• Transformation: At the end of June, BBVA’s digital customer base stood at 25.1 million (+26 percent yoy). Of these, 20.7 million were mobile customers (+43 percent yoy). Digital sales increased in H1-18 and now account for 39 percent of total sales. All this contributed to strengthen recurring banking revenues and to keep efficiency at 49.2 percent
• Income: Solid trends in recurring revenues and cost containment efforts drove operating income growth in the first six months of 2018 (+6.8 percent in constant terms). Profitability has also improved significantly. ROE stood at 11.7 percent, while ROTE was 14.3 percent
• Risks: Risk indicators continued to perform robustly. At the end of June, the NPL ratio stood at 4.4 percent, with coverage of 71 percent
• Capital: A pro-forma fully-loaded CET ratio of 11.40 percent was reached in June. It includes the sale of BBVA Chile (finalized in July) and the Cerberus agreement to reduce its exposure to the real estate business. The tangible book value per share grew in the quarter