Once upon a time, not so long ago, sending money was a tedious, often time-consuming task. Now, with the advent of the smartphone and mobile banking apps, sending money doesn’t need to be time consuming or burdensome. With the BBVA Compass Mobile Banking App sending money is easier than ever.

Updating the preferred contact information on file with your bank shouldn’t be a long, tedious or frustrating process that involves weaving your way through an automated phone system. With the BBVA Compass Mobile Banking App, it’s not.

Each year around August a new round of freshman begin to descend on colleges across the country, armed with everything needed for their first shot at independence. Of all the tools in their arsenal, a checking account might be one of the most important.

At the bottom of every check you write and every check you cash or deposit, you’ll find a long string of numbers: nine digits, then a colon followed by eight more digits, one more colon and another four digits. But what do those 21 numbers really mean?

Deposit accounts, put simply, are bank accounts that allow money to be deposited and withdrawn by the account holder. The bank notes the balance of these accounts on its books as a liability, as it’s the amount the bank owes to the customer.

LOL. BRB. AFK. BTW. IMHO. Social media and texting have made this kind of alphabet soup ubiquitous. But what about FDIC?  You see those letters on nearly every bank branch and every bank website you visit. But what do those letters mean? What do they even stand for?

There are plenty of ways to move money these days – from paying bills to receiving payments to paying friends – and most of them are digital.

Stop fooling yourself: You’re not a calculator. No matter how calm and poised you think you are when making financial decisions, there is a factor you can’t do anything about: You’re human. However, banks such as BBVA can help you make the best decisions.

Unexpected life changes occur frequently, and with them come ripple effects that uncover even more twists and turns. The effects could be costly for your family – especially if you’re not around to help.

Everfi is a leading educational technology company that uses social games, videos, and animation among other tools to provide financial education to everyone, at any age, anywhere in the world.

Interest rate, risk diversification and fixed-income assets are some of the financial concepts that most people have to deal with at one point or other. Do we really know what we are talking about? According to the Financial Skills Survey carried out by the Bank of Spain and the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), 46 percent of Spaniards rate their financial knowledge as “low” or “very low”. Only 8 percent say it is “high”.

Black Knight, Inc.’s latest Mortgage Monitor Report indicates that taken together, rising interest rates and home prices have affected housing affordability, resulting in a more than $100 increase in monthly payment on a 30-year mortgage used to purchase a median-priced U.S. home.

P2P, or peer-to-peer transactions, have become a popular way to complete small transactions – whether you’re paying a friend back for buying your movie ticket, or chipping in for a co-worker’s birthday cake. If you’re looking to protect yourself, that’s all they should be used for: small transactions.

In honor of the men and women who give of themselves to serve the public everyday, BBVA Compass has designated May Everyday Heroes month.

For many Americans, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, replete with BBQs, time with friends and family and the first foray into the pool. But, even as we set about celebrating the freedom we have, it’s incumbent on us to not forget those who gave their all in service to our country.

An eat-in kitchen. Open floor plan. Shiplap for days. For home remodeling show junkies, the inspiration for home renovation is never ending.

Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit are very similar financial tools, used by homeowners with a need for a quick source of funding.

When it comes to credit cards and rewards, not all are created equal, but once you know what’s right for you, rewards systems can be a nice source of extra income and perk

On the surface, personal loans and payday loans may sound similar, and in some instances, payday loans – with fast funding – may even sound like a better option, but play close attention, because they are decidedly not the same thing. Read on.

A ‘teachable moment’ is a unique instant in which the opportunity presents itself to teach something to someone else who has had their attention captured by that something. These valuable learning opportunities in financial education lend themselves to teaching people to take informed decisions.

BBVA Compass, the U.S. subsidiary of the global financial services group BBVA, now offers near instantaneous decisioning and potential same day funding for both customers and non-customers with the footprint wide(1) opening of the fully digital BBVA Compass Express Personal Loan.

With the Express Personal Loan, customers and prospects can consolidate debt or fund large purchases with a low-interest personal loan that provides near instantaneous decisioning. Applicants with a BBVA Compass checking account can get same day funding upon loan approval. The loan, which represents months of effort across the entirety of the bank, underscores BBVA Compass’ drive to digital transformation and achieving excellence in customer experience.

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.

A year ago BBVA launched a project that reflects its commitment to financial education: the Center for Financial Education and Capability, whose goal is to foster knowledge in the area of financial education and inclusion.

BBVA Compass continues to create opportunities for its clients, consumers and communities throughout its footprint, focusing on impactful hyper-local initiatives. Published on the bank’s global news platform, bbva.com, the articles below highlight BBVA Compass’ commitment to being an engine of opportunity within the communities it serves, and a bank with a mission of providing insights and services that help position its clients and consumers for a bright financial future.

BBVA was recently chosen by Global Finance as the best private bank in Latin America, a distinction granted by the magazine in its “World’s Best Private Banks 2018” awards.

Let’s face it. Saving money is not easy, especially when at every turn, it seems there are more wants that feel a lot like needs. It can be a hard fought battle.

According to a recent Bankrate.com survey, just four in ten people indicated they were able to cover an unexpected $1,000 expense without going into debt to do so.

For these people, a savings plan is the obvious answer, but for the many Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck, even the smallest savings can feel out of reach. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Below are five tips to help you get started saving today.

Around seven years ago, in the wake of recently enacted regulatory changes, the availability of free checking accounts started a slow descent into oblivion as banks grappled with how to adjust business models.

Fast forward to today, and banks are still grappling with the issue, as evidenced by a recent bank’s announcement that it would be eliminating its free checking account and moving customers into an account charging a $12 monthly fee  – unless the customer maintains a direct deposit of $250 or more, or a minimum daily balance of $1,500

Alternative finance keeps gaining traction in Europe and Spain is no exception. By volume of activity —and excluding the UK— Spain ranks fifth in the European Union for the fourth consecutive year in this segment, behind France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland. In 2016, Spain’s alternative finance sector grew by 162%, to €131 million.

Owning a credit card in 2018 may become more lucrative, says BBVA Compass Head of Payments Jon Groch.

According to Groch, rewards – or more precisely, the proliferation of them – is one of the biggest trends for credit cards in 2018. Other trends, he says, underscore the same emphasis on the consumer, as well as strategies to differentiate and distinguish individual cards and credit card issuers from one another.

It’s called the ‘upgrade effect.’ A new version of your mobile comes out and, without realizing it, you become careless with your own phone. Is your subconscious crying out for that spectacular new model that’s already available in the stores?

BBVA offers its private banking clients access to the best art advisory service in the world, to help them develop their taste and passion within the most promising sectors of the art market. BBVA has partnered with The Fine Art Group, a global art and finance house, to provide its clients with an art advisory service. But, what does art advisory really entail?

Wim Mijs, CEO of the European Banking Federation and member of  Advisory Board for BBVA’s Center for Education and Financial Capability, has been working to promote financial education for many years now – first in the Netherlands and then throughout Europe. His efforts have been well received by the most important institutions in the finance industry and he’s building an ecosystem that breaks down barriers to foster knowledge.

María José Roa, a researcher at the Center for Latin American Monetary Studies (CEMLA), recently presented the results of her study, “The importance of financial capabilities: an empirical analysis in the Andean region,” which was carried out with the collaboration of CAF (the Development Bank of Latin America).

BBVA Global Wealth held the second edition of its Next Generations Madrid program, intended for second generations of Private Banking customers. The purpose of the program is to bring value to customers’ families, providing them with a specific educational experience.

The use of cash as method of payment has been declining in recent years, in favor of digital methods and credit cards. Last month we saw another example in the Hawkers sunglass brand, which will not be accepting cash payments in its new Madrid store.

Richard H. Thaler was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences by the Royal Swedish Academy, for his “contributions to behavioral economy”

It might seem like simple advice, but it’s advice people should follow if they’re dedicated to rebuilding their credit score, according to a BBVA Compass expert with over 20 years of experience under his belt:

BBVA Compass has appointed its former Chief Fiduciary Officer Donette Stubblefield as its new Houston Market Global Wealth Executive, where she will lead all Global Wealth operations in the market.

Lines of credit and loans are two different financial products that allow users to borrow money. However, they have differences which should be taken into account when choosing one or the other.

Say you go into a hair salon and want to pay your stylist a tip, but you don’t have any cash on hand. Instead, you use your credit card and pencil in a tip amount. Given the fees merchants have to pay for the ability to accept debit or credit card payments, perhaps you’ve asked yourself how much of the tip will actually make it to the stylist. Will the merchant take a cut of it in order to help pay those fees?

After Tropical Storm Allison drenched Houston and caused billions of dollars in damages in 2001, Harris County spent tens of millions of federal dollars to redraw its floodplain maps to more accurately reflect the risks. Now, 16 years later, after Hurricane Harvey left some homes flooded for the third time in as many years, those same maps are in the crosshairs.

The financial sector has undergone tremendous change in the past few years thanks to the adoption of emerging technologies such as the smartphone.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), the average family will spend nearly $700 on the return to school this year, contributing to the nation’s projected back-to-school spending total of $29.5 billion — the second highest figure on record and an 8 percent increase from last year. Although consumer confidence seems to be on the rise, BBVA Compass realizes that budget and convenience were probably still two core subjects in a parent’s back-to-school shopping curriculum this year.

One of the topics of debate in the European Union’s Payment Services Directive 2, better known as PSD2, is how to articulate the access to customer data by third parties. The European Banking Authority (EBA) has said it is in favor of access through Application Program Interfaces (APIs), which it regards as being more secure in protecting customer data. That position differs from the one taken to date by the European Commission.

Each time I pull out my debit card to make a purchase, I’m hit with a minor – but not inconsequential – question. A cashier or the point of sale machine at the counter where I’ve swiped or inserted my card asks that all-too-familiar inquiry: Debit or credit?

Typically, my default choice is debit, but not for any good or informed reason. I’m paying with a debit card, so the obvious choice is debit, right? But then, why am I given an option in the first place? Does it really matter which button I hit or what option I choose? To help answer these questions, I talked to BBVA Compass Director of Merchant Acquiring Adam Spencer.

Digital financial services are within everyone´s reach, but each generation has its own peculiarities when using them. Mobile banking apps have won over the centennials, while social networks influence Generation Y when it comes to changing banks, and Generation X confides in online banking. The baby boomers, meanwhile, prefer to take a stroll to the branch office.

Consumer debt in the U.S. continues to be pervasive some seven years after 2008’s economic downturn. If you count yourself as one of those still struggling, take heart. With a dose of discipline and self control, you could potentially loosen debt’s vice grip on your life.

BBVA Global Wealth, the private banking unit of BBVA, will be partnering with the consulting firm The Fine Art Group to offer its customers comprehensive art advice. The goal is to help BBVA’s Private Banking clients understand and manage art as an investment. This service is currently available in Spain, Mexico and Switzerland and will soon be expanded to other regions.

Consumer lending provides financing for personal, family, or household purposes. The loans can come from a variety of places, including financial institutions or lending platforms, like the aforementioned Prosper and Lending Club.