Advances in artificial intelligence and mobile technology have led many banks to consider using virtual assistants to provide their customers with personal and portable financial managers. In this article, BBVA design manager, Julián García Ruiz, describes the challenge BBVA undertook and the path that led to the creation of the bank’s virtual assistant, Blue.

True to its commitment to deliver the best services to its customers, BBVA has become the first financial institution in Spain to roll out a seamless 100% online account switching process that allows customers to bring their bank accounts from other banks to BBVA. In most cases the process can be completed without any additional paperwork. The ‘Cambio de banco (Switch Banks)' digital tool automates all the steps involved in the account switching process, including the updating of all direct debit, credit, and billing arrangements and shutting down the old account, in a seamless process that saves users the need to visit any branches of the BBVA or their former bank’s networks.

A total of 15 new BBVA USA branches will open in early 2021, as announced by the bank recently, with all branches being opened in the bank’s Texas footprint. One of the biggest, and more unique, differences of these modern branches is the new Personal Banker Bar, a feature meant to replace a traditional teller line, and enhance the consumer experience.

Garanti BBVA Vice President İlker Kuruöz, together with Fatih Sarı, journalist and technology columnist, participated in 3T3, a program where they analyzed the pandemic's impact on business.

BBVA in Spain’s mobile banking app adds an average of 60 new features every year. Users especially appreciated the ability to manage their finances on the app during the lockdown. They also value the channel’s speed - the app opens in just two seconds - and how easy it is to use.  Bank customers gave the app a score of 4.7 on Google - the highest in the industry and close to the maximum score of 5. The app reached this score after the outbreak of the pandemic, when it became and essential tool.

Beyond hastening the adoption of specific technologies - such as telemedicine or robotics – one of the brightest outcomes of the scenario brought about by the coronavirus pandemic has been the unprecedented collaborative spirit that has emerged, which could unleash deeper changes in technological development in the coming years. The challenges posed by the coronavirus aftermath may lead to increasing levels of data sharing and faster deployment of solutions to preserve privacy, which could help lay the foundation for new digital infrastructures.

Reliability, convenience, sustainability, trust, and security are key words consumers and businesses want to associate with their bank. The best example of where these words blend to one concrete concept in the banking industry is in data and technology.

Compulsory quarantine due to COVID-19 has led to increased use of digital channels, especially mobile banking services, as can be seen in the BBVA franchises in South America.

In its third year, the BBVA global ninja hackathon took place virtually for the first time. Local teams representing the digital talent community from seven of the bank’s operating countries participated in the event. Despite the separation by distance, more than 1,000 BBVA ninjas joined the initiative, helping their teams solve technological challenges created by Amazon Web Services (AWS). At this year’s event, U.S. team SQL Injection emerged as the global winner.