BBVA shareholders have an appointment this Friday at the Euskalduna Concert Center in Bilbao, Spain. Starting at 12:00 CET, Group Executive Chairman Carlos Torres Vila and CEO Onur Genç will take stock of 2018 and offer their vision of 2019.

For the second time within a month, GOBankingRates has recognized BBVA Compass, this time highlighting its second chance checking account as one of the top in the U.S. The list includes 16 banks across the country, with BBVA Compass being the second largest bank recognized in terms of assets and branch count.

All eyes were on the possibility yesterday that the European Central Bank (ECB) could make changes in the forward guidance on rate and on a potential announcement of new liquidity measures. And Mario Draghi didn’t disappoint: he answered both questions. He announced that the ECB will keep interest rates on hold until at least the end of this year and another series of auctions of long-term liquidity. BBVA Research has just released an ECB Watch report covering and assessing the measures announced by Draghi.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published its most recent Consumer Trends Report. Prominent among the conclusions of the report is the fact that mortgages are the retail product that most impact consumers’ finances, whereas more than half of the European population already uses online banking.

The Eurozone finance ministers recently approved the appointment of Ireland’s Central Bank Governor,  Philip Lane, as the next chief economist at the European Central Bank (ECB). Alongside the central bank’s president and the members of the Executive Board, which will also see new appointments this year, the chief economist plays a key role on the institution’s Governing Council. According to BBVA Research, this year’s scheduled turnover at the bank, may result in changes to the ECB’s current stance on monetary policy.

BBVA Compass Colorado CEO Andy Wykstra has been named one of the Colorado Bankers Association’s Bankers of Distinction.

Garanti was a top contender at the recent 2019 Turkey Bonds & Loans Awards, where it received 10 awards out of the 13 for which it was nominated. The Bonds & Loans Awards is one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in Turkey that celebrates achievements in structured finance and capital markets.

The BBVA Group is the only Spanish bank ranked in the Fortune 2019 annual 'megabank' list, which distinguishes it as one of the “World’s Most Admired” financial institutions. This is the fourth consecutive year the Group is included in this exclusive ranking.