Mortgages and real estate were at the forefront of the fintech news headlines this week in the U.S.

Upturn, a new venture incubated by BBVA and aimed at changing the financial health of up to 22 million U.S. residents a year, has today been launched in the U.S.

The mobile banking app is the fastest-growing communication channel between banks and their customers today. For customers who use their banking app, it has become their preferred and most frequent channel of engagement. Still, most of the functionalities for banking apps are targeted towards servicing with limited new product sales capabilities. So, why don’t banks unleash the full potential of that digital channel?

The BBVA Compass Mobile Banking App is stacked with features and functionalities to make using the bank in your pocket easier, safer and more convenient than ever. But, using the app can be easier when paired with the language in which you’re most comfortable.

U.S. digital bank Simple, which is owned by BBVA, has announced the appointment of David Hijirida as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer. Hijirida, who joins from Amazon, takes over from Dickson Chu who was working as the interim CEO of the bank, and who will remain as the Executive Chairman of Simple’s Board of Directors.

Who will win the battle between fintech and banks in an age where geographic borders matter less and data is a critical factor in business growth? Actually for BBVA Chief Executive Officer Carlos Torres Vila the answer is simple - it will be the customer. This was one of the key messages he delivered in front of several thousand people at the world's biggest fintech conference in Singapore, earlier today.