Whether it was an image of a dog, a grumpy cat, a disguised hyperlink to Rick Astley, or an illustrated stickman called Bill, you’ve probably seen – and maybe even shared – a meme in the past 24 hours.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and BBVA have joined forces to help provide Spanish SMEs the funding they need to implement their digitization and innovation strategies. EIB Vice President Román Escolano, and the Head of BBVA Spain, Cristina de Parias, signed an agreement today in Madrid through which the EIB will provide BBVA €150 million to finance SME investment projects related to innovation and digitization. BBVA will provide an additional €150 million of its own resources to fund this new line of credit.

Garanti Bank, signed a three-year credit agreement worth $250 million with ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited) with the coordination of ICBC Turkey Bank A.Ş. The agreement has been the first credit cooperation by Garanti with ICBC. Garanti will be using this amount for the funding of general corporate operations and foreign trade.

Car sharing and driverless cars are shaking the very foundations of the automobile industry. Will technology make car ownership obsolete?

A few weeks ago, scientists discovered close-by a planet the size of Earth that possibly could sustain life. In fact, according to reports, the newly-found world, known as Ross 128 b, is 11 light-years away – a small road trip in the cosmic universe – and is set to become a familiar neighbor in the future.

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 finance industry will survive the disruption in the sector, but only a few banks will be able to offer the best customer experience, adapt to the new ecosystem and successfully achieve their digital transformation. “Competition with the fintech companies makes us better and stronger,” said José Manuel González-Páramo, BBVA’s Executive Member of the Board, Head of Global Economics, Regulation and Public Affairs, during the European Central Bank´s Forum on Banking Supervision.

In a few years, we may not be paying with cash, cards or even with smartphones, but rather, by car. Vehicle connectivity will change the way we manage time and money, but a number of problems still need to be addressed.

According to BBVA Research’s latest Spain Outlook report, 2017 will cap off Spain’s three-year run of GDP growth at rates above three percent. Recovery will continue in 2018, but at a slower pace, in an environment marked by rising uncertainties. The report was presented today by Jorge Sicilia, Chief Economist of BBVA Group and Head of BBVA Research, Rafael Doménech, Head of Macroeconomic Analysis of BBVA Research and Miguel Cardoso, Chief Economist Spain and Portugal. Considering this scenario, BBVA Research has downgraded its GDP growth forecasts for 2017 and 2018 to 3.1 and 2.5%, from 3.3% and 2.8% in July.

BBVA Compass National Mortgage Sales Manager Eduardo Castaneda has been in the mortgage business for over three decades, and can pour a vast amount of information on the subject at a moment’s notice.