Fintech, blockchain technology – together with bitcoin – and crowdlending are tools that help SMEs, which play an increasingly prominent role in the labor market.

Now there are more ways for BBVA Compass customers to make purchases, thanks to the integration of Android Pay and Samsung Pay for BBVA Compass cardholders.

BBVA is betting big on open platforms and BBVA API Market is, as of today, the clearest example of this strategy. The portal – through which developers can access BBVA’s APIs - is still in a pilot stage and, for the time being, is available by invitation-only for users from Spain and the United States.  The purpose is to offer other companies a way to leverage BBVA’s capabilities to build their services.

Investment in fintech firms is on the rise, helping to improve conversion ratios and secure cost savings. Tech firms that offer innovative financial services are revolutionizing the ecosystem in a number of ways.

Ninety percent of  Danish smartphone users have an app to be able to make payments and transfers via their cell phone.The app in question is Danske Bank's MobilePay, which is a success story that points the way for Denmark in its goal of reaching a cashless society.

Internet access is now the dominant factor in financial inclusion, overtaking other variables such as race or education levels in determining whether someone participates in the traditional banking system, BBVA Compass economists write in an op-ed posted Thursday on American Banker’s BankThink blog.

The fintech world and the banking “old guard” came together at the recent Money2020 Europe conference held in Copenhagen.  The Guardian newspaper summarizes these few days, where it was a case of “the fintech entrepreneurs doing the talking while the “old” heads listen”.

“Everledger is a digital, global ledger that tracks and protects items of value… and it’s on the blockchain.” Nearly seven months have passed since Everledger CEO and founder Leanne Kemp used this pitch to explain Everledger at the BBVA Open Talent 2015 Europe finals. After winning the European title of BBVA’s startup contest, Everledger has continued its hard work and achieved several major accomplishments, including moving into new areas like fine art and ethical supply chain finance – with more on the way. [Just as of last week, Everledger was included in the prestigious ranking The FinTech 50 of 2016]

Among mobile banking customers, Android users came out ahead of iOS users by 53% to 47%.

BBVA’s strategic digital banking partner in the UK, Atom Bank, has opened its’ virtual doors to pre-registered customers - just 9 months after receiving its banking licence and 4 months after BBVA announced its 29.5% strategic stake.