A traditional debate that ensues when banks are expanding internationally revolves around whether it is preferable to run branch offices or set up subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are associated with decentralized models where banks adapt to the local environment, both from a business and regulatory point of view. The model that uses branches characterizes banks with a more centralized structure, where decisions are made by the parent company.

World Finance Magazine and European CEO Magazine pay tribute to the BBVA unit’s achievements in customer experience and digital transformation. Garanti has been named as “the Best Retail Bank in Turkey” by World Finance Magazine and as “the Best Retail Bank in Europe” by European CEO Magazine in recognition of the quality of customer experience it delivers, the digital transformation of its branches and innovative projects and solutions such as its instant e-commerce loan.

BBVA, today brings its customers Apple Pay, which is transforming mobile payments with an easy, secure and private way to pay that’s fast and convenient.

Alberto Charro has been named the executive chairman of BBVA Uruguay, replacing Antonio Alonso, who is retiring after 35 years with the BBVA Group. Alberto Charro will take up his new post on August 1.

Top news and articles from BBVA Compass in June reflected the bank’s commitment to being a digital leader and engine of opportunity for customers, small businesses and communities throughout its footprint. The bank also positioned itself as a financial education resource, publishing a series of informational articles on homeownership.

BBVA Compass‘ record quarterly earnings for the first quarter of 2018 was top news on bbva.com for the month of April. Other leading news in April and May reflected the bank’s commitment to small businesses, financial education, and being an engine of opportunity locally and within its communities. The bank also published a series of articles that spotlighted its culture, employees and digital transformation.

The BBVA Compass Foundation has announced that it will donate $2,500 to the Santa Fe Texas Education Foundation, Inc. to aid in recovery efforts in the wake of the recent tragedy at Santa Fe High School.

BBVA today announced a reorganization of its Customer Solutions area led by its Global Head Derek White. The move aims to foster the development of innovative solutions for the Group’s clients and customers, the promotion of disruptive initiatives, while accelerating the bank’s transformation.

BBVA allocated 103 million euros in 2017 to social initiatives on a global level. BBVA continued to reinforce the main pillars of action of its Community Investment Plan for the period 2016-2018: financial education, social entrepreneurship and knowledge. The graphic shows the main actions undertaken in these areas:

BBVA AGM approves the Group’s financial statements with 99.67 percent of votes

The remaining items in the agenda were approved by a large majority.

BBVA today launched its new BBVA for Everyone app, available for both iOS and Android operating systems, which enables the blind and those with physical or mild mental disabilities to use the bank’s network of over 6,300 automatic teller machines (ATMs). This new tool will guide those with visual disabilities to the ATM of their choice and help them withdraw cash. BBVA is a pioneer in this type of mobile solutions, which complement the services already available for people with disabilities on the web and corporate apps.

Switzerland is currently the world’s largest private banking center, accounting for 25% of the global market. The country has a deep-rooted wealth management tradition, offering the perfect combination of experience, precision and a strong work ethic within a highly unstable geopolitical environment.

Garanti Bank has won an award recognizing its commitment to the principles of corporate governance and its compliance with the directives of Turkey´s Capital Markets Board (CMB).

BBVA presents Baby Planner, a new functionality within BBVA’s app and website that allows customers and non-customers to understand the expenses associated with having a baby. The monetary expenditure for families with a child under three is 10% higher than for those without, as concluded by estimates from BBVA Research after factoring in other differences between households. This added functionality serves to give new parents the information they need to plan their finances. BBVA Baby Planner also provides the economic effects associated with maternity and paternity-leave and other schemes to offer “work-baby balance.”

BBVA-owned content be available through a number of channels, including iVoox, Apple podcasts, bbva.com and BBVA’s social media profiles. BBVA’s first proposal for the new channel is Blink, a weekly program offering practical information on personal finance, fintech solutions, work methodologies and tips to help users make the best financial decisions.

BBVA Francés is fully immersed in its transformation to digital banking. This year, the bank moved into a modern tower in Buenos Aires, where it is growing as a company, both culturally and in terms of teamwork. Customer experience is setting the pace of change towards a mobile future. For CEO Martín Zarich, the customer experience sets the pace towards a changeable future. In his opinion: “the moment is now, not in five years’ time”.

In April 2010, when smartphone penetration was still very low in Argentina, BBVA Francés launched an innovative communication channel to be closer to its customers. FrancésGo was the first mobile channel in the financial sector. It allowed customers to obtain information about BBVA Francés card promotions by text message (SMS that all types of devices could receive), segmented by area, type and brand. At the time, customers had to send the word “GO” to a four-digit number. And that’s how it all started.

ShareAction, one of the most important observers of responsible investing, has published a study on the 15 biggest European banks, analyzing how we manage the risks and opportunities related to climate change. This study follows the guide for investors on discussing climate change with their bank that was published a few months ago.

The oldest private domestic bank in Argentina and one of the leaders in Latin America, BBVA Francés on October 14 marked its 130th year in operation and its 21st year as part of the BBVA Group. In the course of its history, BBVA Francés has gone from being a 20th century “temple of money,” to a powerhouse of digital banking in the Argentina of the 21st century.

BBVA has appointed María Abascal as Global Director of Institutional Relations. Abascal brings to the post more than 15 years of experience in the analysis of economic, financial, regulatory and institutional affairs in the public and private sector. Prior to her new appointment, since June 2010 she had been BBVA Research’s Chief Economist for Regulation and Public Policies.

BBVA customers in Spain now have access to a new feature that completely simplifies mobile-to-mobile money transfers. The transfers are totally secure and do not require customers to use BBVA’s mobile banking app. Both Android and iOS users can send money through BBVA’s “chatbots” on instant messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and Telegram. And those using the iOS operating system (iPhone) will also be able to do so with the voice assistant, Siri. All this has been made possible thanks to an evolution of the Bizum system, which enables users to send money between cell phones with the apps of the major Spanish banks.

Positive market conditions and investor appetite have helped BBVA to get an excellent reception for its sixth issue of CoCos. The Group has issued a $1 billion bond, with the lowest coupon in dollars for an issuer from southern Europe (6.125%), and the longest maturity (perpetual, with a ‘call’ option starting in the tenth year). Registration of a prospectus with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has prompted a bigger participation from American, European and Asian investors.

The BBVA Group takes another step forward in its digital transformation and in improving customer experience, with a new website for shareholders and investors. The site includes new content and the latest trends in browsing, and is accessible from any mobile device.

BBVA Compass today announced that Manolo Sánchez is retiring as non-executive chairman of the board of directors of BBVA Compass and its holding company, BBVA Compass Bancshares, Inc. Terry Strange, longtime member of the board and the current chairman of the Audit and Compliance Committee, will step into the role of non-executive chairman effective Nov. 15.

BBVA Compass Bancshares, Inc., a Sunbelt-based bank holding company (BBVA Compass), reported today net income of $130 million for the third quarter of 2017, an 8 percent increase from the $120 million earned during the third quarter of 2016. Included in third quarter 2017 results is approximately $60 million (pre-tax) of provision expense related to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Return on average assets and return on average tangible equity(1) for the third quarter of 2017 were 0.59 percent and 6.40 percent, respectively.

• Operating income: Recurring revenues continued their upward trend, growing 4.2% between January and September. This, together with cost containment efforts (expenses dropped 1.7% in the year to September), drove operating income to a record €9.52 billion
• Risks: The NPL ratio continued to improve, reaching 4.5% in September (vs. 4.8% in June), the lowest level in the past five years. Coverage increased to 72%
• Capital: The fully-loaded CET1 ratio rose to 11.2% in September, reflecting a capital generation of 30 basis points in the first nine months of the year
• Transformation: The digital customer base grew 24% y-o-y to 21.1 million in September. Of these, the number of customers banking with their smartphones surged 43% to 15.8 million

BBVA is collaborating with CSR Europe to translate the “Blueprint for Embedding Human Rights in Key Company Functions” into Spanish. This manual uses practical examples and specific guidelines to help companies incorporate human rights into their business.

Perseverance is the key to success. That was the message BBVA’s Group Executive Chairman shared with an audience of finance and banking students at the start of the academic year. “Amazon was about to collapse twice. It has been hard for us, but here we are leading the transformation of the industry,” said Francisco González. Principles are the other fundamental element: “Never give in to misconduct,” he told them.

BBVA Compass announced Tuesday that it will offer payment-deferral programs for victims of Hurricane Irma in Florida as well as a robust suite of discounted loans and lines of credit to help the families and businesses affected by the powerful storm.

BBVA Compass is making the limited-time offers — among them special loan and payment deferral programs, waived late fees and penalty-free CD withdrawals — available to consumer and small business clients in the 67 counties declared in a state of emergency by Florida Gov. Rick Scott. For the time being, the bank also is waiving all ATM fees in Northeast and Central Florida: Its own customers will pay no fees to BBVA Compass if they use non-BBVA Compass ATMs, and non-customers will be able to use BBVA Compass ATMs at no charge from BBVA Compass.

BBVA has sent a statement to the CNMV (National Securities Markets Commission) related to its subsidiary in Chile

Access the full statement [here]

BBVA has issued €1.5 billion at 5 years, at fixed interest. It is its first issue of senior non-preferred debt, a new category of liability with the capacity to absorb losses, that allows financial institutions in the European Union to comply with MREL requirements. The issue has been a success, with demand of around €5 billion, allowing it to close with the lowest price in Europe at this maturity, 70 basis points above the mid-swap rate, and a coupon of 0.75%.

BBVA Compass announced Tuesday that it will offer payment-deferral programs for flood victims in Texas as well as a robust suite of discounted loans and lines of credit to help the families and businesses affected by Hurricane Harvey rebuild their lives.

BBVA Compass is making the limited-time offers — among them special loan and payment deferral programs, waived late fees and penalty-free CD withdrawals — available to consumer and small business clients in the 58 counties declared a state of disaster by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. For the time being, it also is waiving all ATM fees in those areas: Its own customers will pay no fees to BBVA Compass if they use non-BBVA Compass ATMs, and non-customers will be able to use BBVA Compass ATMs at no charge from BBVA Compass.

WEATHER UPDATE:

Because safety is our top priority, some BBVA Compass branches in South Texas remain closed at this time.

For the most up-to-date  information on open branches and hours, please refer to this page:

https://www.bbvacompass.com/go/status.html   

If you need additional assistance, please call 1-800-COMPASS or use the BBVA Compass Mobile Banking app and BBVA Wallet.

Türkiye Garanti Bankası A.Ş., announced its financial statements dated June 30, 2017. With an asset size of TL 335 billion 942 million 185 thousand, Garanti’s contribution to the economy through cash and non-cash lending reached TL 272 billion 980 million 362 thousand, based on the consolidated financials. The Bank posted a net income of TL 3 billion 100 million 273 thousand in the first six months of 2017. The Bank delivered an ROAE (Return on Average Equity) of 18.1% and an ROAA (Return on Average Assets) of 2.1%.

• Income: Net interest income reached a seven-quarter high in Q2. In the year to June, this item, plus fees and commissions, grew 5.1% y-o-y. This, combined with cost-containment efforts, helped keep the efficiency ratio at levels below 50%
• Risks: The Group’s NPL ratio stood at 4.8% at the end of the quarter, compared to 4.9% in December; coverage stood at 71%
• Capital: BBVA remained in line with its fully-loaded CET1 target (11%). It added 20 basis points in the first two quarters and increased the ratio to 11.10%. This ratio includes the negative impact related to the March purchase of an additional 9.95% stake in Turkey’s Garanti
• Transformation: As of the end of June, BBVA’s digital customer base came to 19.9 million (+22% y-o-y). Of these, 14.5 million were mobile customers (+42% y-o-y). BBVA’s mobile banking app in Spain is the best in the world, according to Forrester Research

The week of the publication of second quarter 2017 results (2T 2017) begins and as it does, we remember the five keys to understanding a bank´s results. The following infographic shows how to interpret the most important figures.

When the deep crisis of the first half of the 1980s was over, the banking sector had undergone a process of consolidation. After restructuring, the most stable and solvent banks took over those that had not been able to survive the depression. The most important banking groups grew stronger, but had to take even more ambitious and decisive steps to meet the challenges posed by the new European landscape.

The 1973 oil crisis, which arose due to the tensions that led to the Yom Kippur War, set off a global chain reaction that also affected Spain. The increase in commodities prices, and a steady decline in Spain’s economic cycle, led to truly difficult times for the banking sector. The upward trend that had begun in the early 1960s was immediately stopped, and worrisome warning signs began to appear, such as an increase in unemployment and a fall in the value of money.

Franco’s government pushed relentlessly to normalize the financial system after determining that most of the efforts over the last decade to open up the sector had been effective. Progressive liberalization of the system was therefore considered a path to continue following. Among other issues, the administration focused on a change in private banking in 1972.

That’s the mission of Rob Brown, head of Marketing, Design and Responsible Business at BBVA. He shared it with the attendees at the IV Edition of Experience Fighters, one of the most important User Experience (UX) & Innovation meetings in Spain.

The subsequent legal reform that took place in the 1950s and early 1960s bore their fruit in the economy and in the banking sector. In the latter, the biggest banks, especially those from Vizcaya, were stronger thanks to a liberalized panorama that enabled their growth and expansion following two complicated decades in the Franco regime.

BBVA Group Executive Chairman Francisco González handed out the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards, honoring the outstanding work of a number of scientists and their contribution to the advancement of knowledge in recent decades. Awardees are responsible for achievements such as the development of the most accurate genomic editing technique; studies that led to the prevention of millions of malaria deaths; discovering how human action can dramatically affect earth’s ecosystems and statistical tools that allow turning data into knowledge in the era of big data.

Before long, the steps taken in the 1950s to abandon the autarchy that had trapped the Spanish economy began to produce results, prompting technocratic ministers to propose additional measures that would put Spain on the path to further liberalization. The route taken by the dictator would still require time, but during the 1960s, the economy was experiencing moments of positive change. The new legislation would encourage private banks to create specific industrial banks.

Garanti Bank signed a residential mortgage covered bond agreement with IFC (International Finance Corporation), a member of the World Bank Group, with 5-year term maturity worth at USD 150 million equivalent to 540 million Turkish Lira. Garanti issued the first residential mortgage covered bond ever, which is IFC has invested the first time in Turkey as well. Garanti will use the fund to provide green mortgages for the purchases of energy efficient housing, helping to boost the development of green buildings in the country’s housing sector.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have agreed to provide BBVA with a €143 million mezzanine guarantee facility to support investment projects for Spanish SMEs. The operation will allow BBVA to offer up to €1 billion in SME funding. The agreement, which has secured backing from the Investment Plan for Europe (also known as the ‘Junker Plan’) was signed today in Madrid by EIB Vice-President Román Escolano and BBVA CEO Carlos Torres Vila.

June 5 is World Environment Day, a UN initiative to raise awareness about the need to take care of the planet. BBVA will illuminate some of its most emblematic buildings in green as a gesture to signify its commitment to this cause.

BBVA has made design a strategic function within the organization. Digital banking and the development of latest-generation digital products and services  have made financial services evolve towards a new model – one that is closer, more humane and focused on the customer.