UK Challenger bank Atom is making its first move overseas by beginning to offer savers in Germany access to its products.

The app-based bank, which is part owned by BBVA, has partnered with Deposit Solutions in order to launch fixed-rate products to customers in the country.

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.

As Houston, surrounding areas and the state of Texas turn their efforts to the rebuilding phase in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, so do small businesses to ensure their operations continue to serve clients and communities.

BBVA Group has published the June 2017 update of its presentation aimed mainly at analysts and fixed-income investors. The key new point is the incorporation of the 2017-2018 issuance plan for senior non-preferred debt. BBVA plans to issue up to €4.5 billion of this type of instrument this year and next.

Giorgio Trettenero is an ardent advocate of the idea that technology will be a major wake-up call for Latin American banking. As Secretary General of the Latin American Banking Federation (FELABAN), he was one of the proponents of the digitalisation of financial services in the region for banks of all sizes.

This week marks yet another milestone for BBVA in green financing in Europe. SSE, the largest producer of renewable energy in the UK, chose BBVA to act as green structuring bank and joint bookrunner on its inaugural EUR 600 million green bond. This is the biggest-ever green bond issued by a UK company, and the financing will be destined to the refinancing of onshore wind farms in SSE’s energy generation portfolio.

BBVA has sent a statement to the CNMV (National Securities Markets Commission) related to its subsidiary in Chile

Access the full statement [here]

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.

BBVA has issued €1.5 billion at 5 years, at fixed interest. It is its first issue of senior non-preferred debt, a new category of liability with the capacity to absorb losses, that allows financial institutions in the European Union to comply with MREL requirements. The issue has been a success, with demand of around €5 billion, allowing it to close with the lowest price in Europe at this maturity, 70 basis points above the mid-swap rate, and a coupon of 0.75%.

On March 25, 1957, representatives from the six founding countries of the European Community put their signatures to the Treaties of Rome, consisting of blank pages due to a problem with the printing. Sixty years on, Europe "is an enormous success", but today it also has "blank pages still to be filled in" for the project to continue with its process of completion. This was the metaphor used by Jose Manuel González-Páramo, the CEO of BBVA, to describe the current situation of the EU.