As Jorge Soto noted in conversation with BBVA, increasing connectivity is making developing economies a hotbed of innovation in financial services: “It is empowering startups to create relevant solutions to the bigger and more significant challenges that still exist in those markets, which have largely already been solved elsewhere.”

The fintech world boasted big news this week.

BBVA Bancomer is the first bank in Mexico to use artificial intelligence integrated with WhatsApp’s technology. Its virtual assistant facilitates the bank's communication with both customers and non-customer users, answering questions about branch location, how to open an account, and suggestions on how to use the bank's digital services.

With the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications across industries, there has been understandable confusion around associated terms, including Robotic Process Automation, Intelligent Automation and even AI itself.

Cristina de Parias holds an undergraduate degree in Law from Universidad de Sevilla and an MBA from IESE. Since her appointment as Head of Spain in 2014, she’s tackled some major challenges, such as the integration of Catalunya Caixa in 2016 and expediting BBVA Spain's digital transformation efforts.

Her career has always been linked to the financial industry, where she started working more than 25 years ago. She joined the BBVA Group in 1998 as head of Personal Banking and Methods of Payment. Between 2004 and 2008 she served as Managing Director of Uno-e.  In 2008 she was appointed Head of Digital Businesses, Innovation and Development and in 2011 she became the first woman to head a Territorial Directorate, the Central one.

Born in Seville, married and mother of four, she travels constantly across Spain. Her associates define her as a thoughtful, very intuitive and approachable person. She loves going on walks, reading, film and travelling with her family. Great Place to Work recognized her as the Best Manager of 2016.

BBVA’s Garanti Bank was singled out as the only Turkish bank among the ‘Most Honored’ financial institutions in this year’s Emerging EMEA Executive Team: Leaders survey by Institutional Investor Magazine (IIM). Garanti CEO Fuat Erbil and IR Head Handan Saygin were also recognized.

A new cryptocurrency available without the internet represents one of the first examples of how to implement blockchain technology in the absence of a decent digital infrastructure.

Computer programs that automate processes are already common in banks. They cut costs, improve efficiency, but what is more important is that when combined with artificial intelligence, they open the door to greater advances.

The latest developments in the world of fintech show promise in certain areas, and concerns in others, according to reports coming out of top credible outlets.

Garanti Bank has been driving digital banking growth for 20 years in Turkey, leading the development of mobile banking in the country. Bora Uludüz, Garanti's senior vice-president of Digital Banking, says the Turkish bank set digitization as one of the pillars of its strategy, dedicating relevant resources to the development and deployment of new technologies.