By Alexis Barton

As integration planning efforts continued—and almost one month after PNC’s acquisition of BBVA’s U.S. subsidiary was announced— BBVA USA team members across the bank began to be introduced to PNC’s leaders and structure in a series of virtual town halls. The events kicked off the week of Dec. 14 and are scheduled to continue through January.

Garanti BBVA was named the winner of a Gold Stevie Award in the “Best Annual Report” category for its 2019 Integrated Annual Report published under the tagline, “The Next Decade.” The Stevie International Business Awards is the only global awards program that recognizes well-known international companies and executives for their achievements.

BBVA placed on Thursday a $2-billion issue of senior preferred debt filed with the U.S. SEC. The issue consists of two tranches, with a maturity of three and five years: The three-year tranche accounted for $1.2 billion, while the five-year one reached $800 million. Demand topped a maximum of $5 billion, with 210 orders, and the book closed with orders of $4.5 billion: $2.5 billion for the three-year tranche and $2 billion for the five-year tranche. Investors’ appetite allowed for the starting price to be set lower. The interest rate has been set at the U.S. Treasury rate plus 75 basis points spread for the three-year tranche (versus a starting spread of 100 bps) and a 100 bps spread for the five-year tranche (vs. a starting spread of 125 bps).

Onur Genç, BBVA CEO:

Garanti BBVA’s management team received first place in the 2019 Corporate Management Awards presented by the Turkish Union of Corporate Management (TKYD).

Following a selection process that began last November and involved large international firms in advertising communication, BBVA has awarded tenders for media management and the digital ecosystem to WPP Group and Accenture Interactive, respectively.

Türkiye Garanti Bankası A.Ş. today announced its fourth quarter earnings. In 2019, the bank’s net income was TL 6.241.390 billion, with total assets at TL 428.554.148 billion. The bank’s contribution to the economy through performing cash and non-cash loans reached TL 321.964.117 billion.

Garanti BBVA organized a foreign trade seminar in Istanbul as part of its commitment to making a difference for its clients. At the event, the bank shared its experiences in foreign trade financing, and provided customers updated information about foreign trade regulations, payment methods and the latest developments in the field.

Onur Genç, BBVA CEO:

More than 650,000 companies can now register to become BBVA Spain customers, using a completely online process that takes less than ten minutes. The bank, an innovator in online enrollment for private customers, has become the first bank in Spain to create an online registration process that lets businesses instantly open and manage a business account.

BBVA’s regional advisory board members gathered for their seventh annual meeting in the auditorium of BBVA’s headquarters in Madrid. Antonio Garmendi, Chairman of the Confederation of Employers and Industries in Spain (CEOE), and Carlos Salazar, Chairman of Mexico’s Business Coordinating Council (CEE) were invited to attend as guests. This year’s meeting included participation from advisory board members from across Spain and a delegation of advisory board members from BBVA Mexico. Carlos Torres Vila, BBVA’s Executive Chairman, inaugurated the session, which also included presentations from BBVA CEO Onur Genç and Cristina de Parias, Head of BBVA Spain.

BBVA Compass Bancshares, Inc., a Sunbelt-based bank holding company (BBVA Compass), reported today net income of $196 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, a 276 percent increase from the $52 million earned during the fourth quarter of 2017. Included in fourth quarter 2017 results is income tax expense of approximately $121 million related to the revaluation of net deferred tax assets at the lower statutory tax rate mandated by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (non-cash charge). Excluding the impact of this item, the year-over-year increase in net income for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to adjusted net income* of $173 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 was 13 percent.

The previous year has come to a close, and with it comes reflection on what 2018 brought. However, a look forward to 2019 can also have its advantages.

The barriers keeping SMEs away from funding were one of the pivotal topics of the SME Finance Forum, held this week in Madrid. José Manuel González-Páramo analyzed how to improve access to financing for many micro, small and medium sized enterprises, as well as the regulatory framework for both banking and alternative funding sources,  “We need to eliminate barriers for SMEs’ to widen their funding sources,” he underscored.

BBVA Compass Bancshares, Inc., a Sunbelt-based bank holding company (BBVA Compass), announced today that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve) did not object to its capital plan and capital actions proposed in the capital plan. BBVA Compass’ capital plan includes common dividends of $315 million during the covered period, subject to approval by BBVA Compass’ board of directors.

Türkiye Garanti Bankası A.Ş., announced its financial statements dated March 31, 2018. Based on the consolidated financials, in the 3 months period of 2018, Garanti’s asset size reached TL 359 billion 882 million, its contribution to the economy through loans and non-cash lending reached to TL 298 billion 250 million 713 thousand. The Bank delivered an ROAE (Return on Average Equity) of 18.3% and ROAA (Return on Average Assets) of 2.2%.

Garanti Bank CEO Fuat Erbil said the turkish bank’s performance last year far exceeded expectations and looks forward to extending that success this year. “Last year was much more positive than expected, both for the country, the sector and Garanti,” Fuat Erbil told journalists in a recent meeting. “As witnessed by the positive outlook for key indicators and investor interest, 2017 was a successful year for Turkey. The banking sector’s performance excelled expectations as domestic demand increased and economic activity as a whole expanded”.

BBVA today announced its strategy around climate change and sustainable development, Pledge 2025. The strategy will help the bank meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and is in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Pledge 2025 will help the bank align its activity to a 2ºC Scenario and strike a balance between sustainable energy and fossil fuel investments and is based on three lines of action: financing, management and engagement.

On January 31st, the European Banking Authority (EBA) announced the formal launch of this year’s EU-wide stress test exercise of the euro area. It also unveiled the macroeconomic scenarios under which the exercise will be carried out. The  adverse scenario implies a deviation of EU GDP from its baseline level by 8.3% in 2020, resulting in the most severe scenario to date. The EBA expects to publish the results of the exercise by 2 November 2018

BBVA took part in the first seminar organized by the Institute of Compliance Officers (IOC).  Executives of Spanish multinationals addressed the main challenges facing the profession in applying current regulations within a company. They underscored the fundamental role of the compliance officer in companies committed to transparency and good corporate governance.

Carlos Torres Vila, CEO of BBVA, last week participated in the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos, Switzerland. In this article, he explains how artificial intelligence and the global debate over the use of data took up a good part of the debates and discussions at this year’s meeting.

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).

The week of the publication of fourth quarter 2017 results (4Q17) 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.

In accordance with accounting regulation, BBVA will make an adjustment in its accounts regarding its stake in communications provider Telefónica. This entry does not involve any cash outflow, nor does it have any impact on the bank’s capital ratio or the payment of dividends. The adjustment will be reflected in the income statement for Q4-17.

BBVA Group Chief Risk Officer (CRO) Rafael Salinas analyzed the challenges of digital transformation and the rapid evolution of technological developments in risk management at the event entitled ‘CRO Forum,  Rethinking Risk Management’ organized in Amsterdam by RiskMinds International.

Garanti Bank on November 22 has successfully refinanced its 367-day Dual Currency Term Loan Facility dated November 23, 2016 with a 100% rollover ratio. The new Facility is comprised of $405.0 million and €648.5 million 367-day tranches and a $180.0 million two-year tranche.

BBVA today announced an agreement with a subsidiary of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. (Cerberus) to create a joint venture (JV) for its real estate business in Spain, reducing almost entirely its exposure to non core real estate assets. On the closing of the operation, BBVA will sell an 80% stake in the JV to Cerberus for about €4 billion. The transaction marks a milestone in BBVA Group’s strategy.

BBVA received a binding offer from The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) for its 68.19% stake in BBVA Chile and other related businesses such as the life insurance arm for about $2.2 billion (1.85 billion euros)¹. The offer does not include the automobile financing activity of Grupo Forum, that will continue to be 100% owned by BBVA.

Traditionally, it has been held that the value of a company equaled its net worth, that is, those elements that constitute the company’s own funds. However, this item (which is defined as the difference between assets and liabilities) doesn’t take into account an intangible asset that is inherent to a company and which can generate future profits: goodwill.

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.

Today BBVA announced financial results for the nine first months of 2017. “Quarter after quarter, BBVA keeps posting solid, recurring and sustainable results,” said CEO Carlos Torres Vila. What figures explain this solidity? Here are the six more noteworthy:

• 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 Group Executive Chairman Francisco González presided over the first edition of the Spanish Computer Science Society (SCIE) – BBVA Foundation Research Awards. These accolades recognized the work of six young Ph.D. recipients who are conducting high-level research in Spain.

This week, several financial institutions will be releasing their earnings reports for the third quarter of the year (3Q 2017). Any bank’s profit and loss account can be interpreted following the five keys we describe in the infographic below.

In the month since Harvey hit Houston, BBVA Compass has published a series of articles to help its customers and the public at large understand the city’s new reality, how to move forward, and how the bank will be there to provide support.

After barreling into the state of Texas, as one of the largest and most damaging Hurricanes in U.S history, Hurricane Harvey continues to devastate the Corpus Christi-Houston-Galveston area with catastrophic destruction, human losses, and unprecedented flooding.

As the region begins to pick up the pieces in the weeks, months and years to come, there is a growing concern about the impact that Hurricane Harvey will have on the regional and national economy.

“Developing better solutions for customers through technology,” is one of the goals of BBVA. And the bank is managing to achieve it. CEO Carlos Torres Vila, along with CFO Jaime Sáenz de Tejada, used the occasion of the presentation of bank’s second quarter 2017 results to offer some interesting data on the bank´s digital transformation.

BBVA Compass Bancshares, Inc., a Sunbelt-based bank holding company (BBVA Compass), reported today record net income of $157 million for the second quarter of 2017, a 29 percent increase from the $123 million earned during the second quarter of 2016 and a 30 percent increase from the $121 million earned during the first quarter of 2017. Return on average assets and return on average tangible equity(1) for the second quarter of 2017 were 0.72 percent and 7.93 percent, respectively.

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.

The European Commission just unveiled a new directive on corporate governance, and more specifically on shareholders’ rights, which will have to be transposed nationwide by June 2019. The Commission’s initiative serves a dual purpose:  It wants to promote the use of new technologies in the corporate governance of companies while increasing the commitment to transparency among institutional investors, asset managers and the companies in which they invest.

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.

Millennials are perhaps the most overanalyzed and overgeneralized generation in history, and the myths surrounding them are endless. From “clueless” to “brainiest” and “self-obsessed” to “socially conscious,” the stereotypes of those born between 1982 and 1995 are often contradictory and range from flattering to derogatory. But just like any other generation, Millennials are by no means homogenous.

BBVA Compass President and CEO Onur Genç has been on the job for just six months, but already, he sees a wealth of opportunity for BBVA in the U.S.

BBVA’s expansion to the U.S. came after it found success in South America and Mexico. The U.S. was an attractive market from a demographics standpoint, with a growing population, a solid economy – which also happened to be the world’s largest – and a positive banking environment. Also, given the Group’s leadership in Latin America, the U.S. with its large and growing Hispanic population was a natural choice.

Although BBVA opened its first U.S. branch in New York City in 1988, it wasn’t until 2004, with the acquisition of a small Southern California bank, Valley Bank, that it rolled out its first retail banking operations in the U.S. Over the next two years, the acquisition of three more banks – Laredo National Bank, Texas State Bank and State National Bank – allowed BBVA to become a leading bank in Texas. By then, it was clear that BBVA was targeting the U.S. market as a pivotal element in its strategy to become a relevant global player. A reality that crystalized 10 years ago, with BBVA’s acquisition of Compass Bank in 2007.