A bright new year dawned for BBVA Compass in 2017 with the January installation of a new President and CEO and the debut of a new global tagline - Creating Opportunities - that would become the theme for the bank’s activities throughout the year.

Christmas and New Year’s are coming and with them, new resolutions and new dreams.  BBVA wants to celebrate these holidays by recalling that opportunities are within everyone’s reach, in line with the company’s corporate purpose: “To bring the age of opportunity to everyone. "

Carlos Torres Vila, BBVA’s Chief Executive Officer, this morning said open innovation is one of the key elements of the bank´s transformation to adapt financial services to customers’ new needs. "Keeping up with the rapid pace of change that companies are undergoing, including the financial services sector, the connection with the innovation ecosystem and entrepreneurs is essential," he said.

BBVA aims to become the bank that customers trust, the one that helps them make the best financial decisions by offering them tailored advice.  Data is the essential raw material for making those decisions. In this regard, customer consent is necessary and to obtain it, “it will be essential to create a circle of trust with the customer,” said BBVA CEO Carlos Torres Vila. He spoke during a breakfast meeting in Madrid organized by the Association for Management Progress (APD - Asociación para el Progreso de la Dirección) and sponsored by AXIS, on the challenges facing the financial sector.

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.

In November, BBVA Compass published a series of articles that underscored its efforts of being an inclusive and digital bank committed to the customers, clients and communities throughout its footprint. Top articles of the month were centered around a recognition for the award-winning BBVA Compass Mobile Banking app; the bank's recent achievement from the Human Rights Campaign; dinners held for the bank's Denver clients; and the bank's new agreement with entertainment presenter, AEG.