One of the questions hanging over the European economy and more specifically, the financial sector, is if the ECB will maintain its current policy of low, or even negative, interest rates for an extended period of time. Moreover, after the warnings announced last Thursday by the Chair of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen, who predicted a hike of the interest rates "relatively soon" if the improvement in the labour market and the inflation continues.

Economists and experts differ over whether this policy is reaching its end, or is here to stay for a while. While the ECB decides if the low rates will remain or start to increase, banks are reflecting on how to face this new environment that is putting their profitability at risk. One key way is through digitization.

BBVA Compass sponsored the Association of Financial Professional's solidarity initiative, AFPAware Community Service Day, to package 10,000 lbs. of food and 2,000 care kits that will be distributed to needy families and abuse victims, respectively.

Ciudad BBVA held Encuentro Promociona, which helps women land senior management positions and seats on boards of directors. The event was presided over by Queen Letizia of Spain and attended by BBVA Executive Chairman Francisco González; the president of the CEOE business association, Juan Rosell; and the Minister of Healthcare, Social Services and Equality, Dolors Monserrat.

Speaking in Seville, BBVA’s Executive Board Director explained that the reason why Spainis growing at a much faster pace than Europe is because the country has tackled very importantreforms in recent years. However, "we need measures capable of bolstering productivity in Spain,” pointed out José Manuel González-Páramo during his address in the context of the 6th Assembly of the San Telmo Institute Member Association, an event attended by King Felipe VI.

BBVA Executive Chairman Francisco González presented this afternoon in the European Parliament the book La búsqueda de Europa (The Search for Europe), published by BBVA through OpenMind, the institution's knowledge platform. During his visit to Brussels, Francisco González stressed that Europe needs more structural reforms and more fiscal policies. He also said that Spain will have a bright future if “we are capable of reaching agreements” to continue pushing reforms.

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