The Finnish startup is to expand to Ireland, Italy, Belgium, France and the Netherlands as demand for its small business current account service increases. The firm has already reached its 150,000 micro business customers milestone.

Garanti Bank provides its SME clients a dedicated in-branch customer relationship manager who support clients in their banking needs. Now, these clients have access to a new service: Central Customer Service (Merkezi Müşteri Hizmetleri, or MHT). This new structure aims to provide clients a faster response to queries and transactions when the volume of requests is high

Carlos Torres Vila studied at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which is where he gave his first interview since becoming BBVA’s Executive Chairman. He was in Boston to present OpenMind’s new book, ‘Towards a New Enlightenment? A Transcendent Decade’ and sat down with the Spanish newspaper, ‘El Mundo,’ to discuss the explosion of technology in the banking industry. He believes data is fundamental: “It is crucial that the data revolution is universal. The most vulnerable in society cannot be left behind.”

Forbes magazine has included BBVA as one of the ‘Blockchain 50,’ a list that recognizes the leaders in the use and development of this exponential technology. The U.S. publication specifically focused on BBVA’s efforts in the area of blockchain-powered syndicated loans, which are used by the bank to further transparency, security, and efficiency throughout its business processes.

Each year Propel Venture Partners holds an annual summit for the businesses it invests into through it’s single limited partner, BBVA. The event in Silicon Valley is a chance for updates, shared learnings, introductions and to discuss the kind of technology and drivers that will shape the sector in the coming years.

Ricardo Forcano, BBVA’s Global Head of Engineering and Organization, participated in the Association for the Advancement of Management’s (APD in Spanish) session on Agile Organizations, where he presented how BBVA is transforming its organization and work methods. “It’s a constant learning process,” Forcano said, referring to BBVA’s efforts to incorporate  the agile methodology across all of its central areas. As a result, the bank is able to provide its customers new solutions more effectively.

In recent months, BBVA Next Technologies has devoted some effort into researching tools and techniques for interpreting machine learning models. These techniques are very useful to understand the predictions of a model (or make others understand them), to extract business insights from a model that has managed to capture the underlying patterns of customers interest, and to debug models in order to ensure they make the right decisions for the right reasons.

In this article we will explain how we have applied these techniques to avoid deploying flawed models into production that seemed totally correct a priori according to standard validation methods.

The branch of artificial intelligence that focuses on teaching machines how to see is becoming increasingly sophisticated. It is already better than humans at telling one person from another. At BBVA’s headquarters, this technology is already being used to allow users to pay for their meals at Ciudad BBVA’s restaurants. But, how does it work?

BBVA and Telefónica have signed a strategic agreement that designates the operator as the single telecommunications service provider for the bank and its employees in Spain. The alliance will allow BBVA to optimize its communications systems, increase the capacity of its technology network, and extend its adoption of cloud computing, providing a distinctive advantage to the business’ needs.

Designers around the world working for the BBVA Group now have a pioneering new tool at their disposal. The platform allows designers to reuse parts in order to create homogenous digital banking experiences across all of the countries where the bank has a presence. BBVA, with presence in 30 countries, is the first bank to launch a platform like this on such an international scale and in multiple continents.

NASA’s Space Apps Challenge, one of the world’s most popular hackathons, has, once again, awarded a group of Spaniards, in this case the time behind ‘Galaxy Quest.’ The project helps processing real data collected by the Hubble telescope through a ‘gamification’ process.  But not only that:  It is the first step in developing an artificial neural network using these data, and a new communications channel between NASA and users.  José Luis Martín-Oar, service designer at BBVA and one of the team’s members, tells us everything about the project.

The ways in which businesses use data to deliver on their strategies is almost as varied as the sources of data themselves. This was one of the key messages from last week’s Domopalooza event held in Salt Lake City in Utah.

More customers now join BBVA via its award winning app in Spain than they do via other digital channels, the bank has revealed in the latest update to its digital transformation programme.

Garanti Bank’s Digital Car Loans took home the bronze medal in the Best Sales Solutions category at the 2019 Stevie Awards. The new product allows customers to calculate payment plan options when purchasing a vehicle – part of the bank’s efforts to make life easier for their customers.

BBVA’s Global Head of Client Solutions, Derek White, told a conference in the Spanish capital Madrid this morning that it was crucial the customers win ‘The Game of Data’.

In 2019, the Business 20 (B20) – considered to be the private sector’s voice of the G20 – is seeking to showcase innovative projects that contribute to the fulfillment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To this end, business members of this advisory body to the G20 have submitted proposals for projects that make a significant social impact. BBVA is the only Spanish bank whose five project submissions are among those selected.

eKampüs, the Teachers Academy Foundation’s (ÖRAV) distance education platform has been restructured with updated content as part of the foundation’s digital transformation.

In its most recent issue, The Fintech Magazine examines some of BBVA’s most recent technology advances, such as payments powered by facial recognition and the use of artificial intelligence in its mobile banking application.  The magazine also outlines the core of the bank’s digital strategy and describes how BBVA is taking steps to fulfill its vision of automated banking in the future.

The sidecar pattern shows itself as a very powerful tool in the new world of containers and can be found in several use cases. In this post we focus in analyzing some of the most interesting use cases from an IT security perspective.

The heart of the scrum work methodology is the sprint. The sprint is a miniproject nomore than one month (very short execution cycles – from one to four weeks), aimed atincreasing in value in the product we are building. All sprints have a definition andplanning that will help achieve the goals set.

BBVA in Switzerland has taken another step forward in the digital transformation of private banking with the launch of its new website. The new site, www.bbva.ch, offers customers an innovative navigation experience and adapts to the bank’s evolving activity in the Swiss country.

To trust or not to trust? This is the question that will redefine success in the digital age. Atom Bank, the first mobile bank in the United Kingdom has been called on to analyze the driving factor behind this new challenge, thanks to an agreement that secures their participation in a three-year project with Newcastle University. BBVA owns a 39 percent stake in Atom Bank.

The BBVA Group is the only Spanish bank ranked in the Fortune 2019 annual ‘megabank’ list, which distinguishes it as one of the “World’s Most Admired” financial institutions. This is the fourth consecutive year the Group is included in this exclusive ranking.

BBVA has been internationally recognized in the third annual Digital Talent Awards, presented by Accenture and the daily business newspaper El Economista, in collaboration with Spain’s Human Resources group. The bank has earned the award because of its adaptability in the digital age, as demonstrated by its cultural change, leadership style, and most importantly its transition to an agile approach to work.

Between 2018 and 2022, the business springing up around technologies blending the real and virtual worlds is expected to grow 700%.

When a company is about to embark on an important project, one of the first decisions it needs to make is which model is the most appropriate to manage the project. In other words: which project or development methodology is most suitable? The two most commonly used approaches are: agile and waterfall.

The digital transformation of the world’s banking industry is a critical evolution that’s needed to ensure the sector stays relevant to its customers and clients.

The relationship, amusingly portrayed as a love-in between big banks like BBVA and fintech start-ups, was the subject of special Valentines Day show in London last week.

On February 26, BBVA will host the sixth plenary meeting of the working group that promotes the use of cloud technologies in Europe’s Digital Single Market (DSM Cloud Stakeholders). The stakeholder group includes business and regulatory representatives specializing in the fields of cybersecurity and the free flow of data.

Integrating the fundamentals of quantum mechanics into computer science will bring about a sea change in the depth and breadth of computing power. Although there are still hurdles to overcome, recent advances suggest these obstacles will soon be a thing of the past.

BBVA’s new ‘agile coaches’ gathered to celebrate the first ‘Global Agile Coach Space’ (GACS), an event which offered them the chance to share their experiences and insights into how to support the bank’s teams in this global transformation process.

In an article, Forbes praises BBVA’s digital strategy and technological deployment, as well as the AI-powered apps that the bank is already using to deliver better solutions to its customers.

Artificial Intelligence and online messaging platforms are joining forces to help users easily build their savings with chatbots. Millennials are accustomed to using these kind of channels to address personal admin chores, so it is logical that they tend to be the target market for tools like Charlie, a chatbot that is part of Propel Venture Partners’ investment portfolio.

In this article we explain how, thanks to Timecop (Auto ML in time series), we can look for anomalies or forecast time series in a large number of cases, using a simple and fast way.

The virtual replica of a real product, service or system can help anticipate potential issues and curb risks by testing new functionalities before rolling them out.

There are unsung heroes who travel miles, undaunted by distance or the obstacles they face on the road to reach their entrepreneurs: entrepreneurs who, whether standing behind a shop counter, sitting behind a sewing machine, or surrounded by their crops, make decisions everyday that impact their lives and the lives of their relatives and neighbors. If these entrepreneurs – more than two million today – are the heart of the BBVA Microfinance Foundation, then the more than 4,000 loan officers who accompany them on the road toward prosperity are its soul. There are many types of heroes in the world. Some, like these, were not born heroes. The were made into heroes.

BBVA backed fintech investment fund Propel Venture Partners has welcomed a new business to its portfolio – and it’s first investment into India. The fund has taken part in the $6.2m Series A funding round in Groww, a fintech business looking to change the way in which people on the subcontinent invest.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a neurologic condition that causes people suffering from it to be dominated by anxiety and develop unwanted thoughts that they cannot get rid of. Researchers at the Universidad Carlos III are applying artificial intelligence techniques to detect which brain areas are affected by this disorder. Emilio Parrado, a data scientist at BBVA was one of the researchers that took part in the project and explains how machine learning can bring huge improvements to any activity, including finance.

According to a report by the independent research firm Forrester, 2019 will be the year that digital transformation aspirations translate into “pragmatic” actions.

The world of video games is an economic and creative reality. Its possibilities are not limited to its recreational aspects; it is an industry that employees a multitude of people. According to the latest report by Newzoo, gaming generated more than €100 billion in 2018. And in an article that cites the Newzoo report, CNBC points out that this represents an increase of more than 13 percent compared to the previous year. The gaming industry encompasses video games, games for mobile devices, and eSports.

Each year the Las Vegas CES technology trade fair becomes a parade of outlandish devices as the the big industry trend-setters make their announcements for the coming year. Manufacturers like LG and Samsung compete to show off the latest models of their flexible displays or connected household appliances, while the likes of Amazon and Google continue the battle to place their virtual assistants in as may products as possible. What happened this year?

BBVA’s investment arm, Propel Venture Partners, has led the latest funding round into class leading invisible payments business Grabango.

The trends described below will be the major disruptors that continue to shape the future of the new year in the age of digital transformation.

It’s time for holiday shopping and a bit more free time. The perfect time to recommend several books that help explain the digital revolution and its context.

BBVA Foundation President Francisco González presented the Francisco Giner de los Ríos Awards for the Improvement of Educational Quality. This year, these awards claim education as the most decisive domain for collective well-being, pluralism and democracy.

Atom and solarisBank, two companies in which BBVA holds a significant stake, included in KPMG’s ‘Fintech 100’ list. The report ranks the leading 50 ‘Established’ fintech companies across the globe, as well as the most captivating 50 ‘Emerging Stars’ with exciting, new products and solutions.

According to BBVA Next Technologies’ experts, these are four of the emerging platforms of the blockchain technology to watch out for next year.

Carlos Torres Vila took part in the ‘14th Banking Industry Meeting’ organized by IESE and EY in Madrid. BBVA’s CEO spoke about how digital transformation reflects on the outside, but originates inside organizations. In the current environment, he believes that banks need to harness the potential of new technologies to create opportunities for their customers. “We think big, not only in the sense of being ambitious, but of being innovative, breaking molds and surprising the customer,” he said.

Identification using authentication like digital fingerprints and facial or iris recognition is making inroads in the world of airports where companies are looking for new technologies to enhance the user experience.

In a world flush with acronyms – hello, banking! – “API” might seem like the latest notable term. But the truth is, APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces, have been on the scene for many years, and was made popular in the year 2000 when SalesForce officially launched its web-based sales force automation.

The global products and services BBVA is now delivering across its countries, driven by the adoption of re-useable code and technology, are offering a unique and personal experience to customers around the world.

Space Apps Challenge is an annual global contest where scientists and innovators from across the world compete to solve challenges facing the aerospace industry proposed by NASA. In 2016, I was one of the scientists that won this prize thanks to an algorithm capable of detecting and classifying Near Earth Objects, or NEOs. Today, I work as a data scientist at BBVA, where I develop fraud detection models. This is my story.

A group of prominent innovation leaders and experts gathered recently in Paris to attend the Innovation Leaders Summit, organized by the MIT Technology Review. BBVA’s was the only major bank to take part as speaker at the event. Here, it debated on current topics, such as the role of blockchain in the emerging tokenized economy and the security challenges posed by quantum computing.

This new computing paradigm will reduce latency and streamline data traffic coming from millions of devices on the Internet of Things.

Atom bank, the UK’s first bank built for mobile and the country’s fastest growing mortgage lender, has agreed a multi-year partnership with leading fintech Thought Machine to put its next generation of personal and business banking products onto Thought Machine’s Vault platform.

The problem of data integrity verification is a classic topic that has been well-studied in the last decades. Many database or log systems run on untrusted servers or are subject to malicious attacks from insiders and, therefore, vulnerable to tampering. With the advent of cloud computing and the possibility of dealing with outsourced data, such situation has been aggravated. This problem is an essential challenge for financial institutions where preserving the correctness of customer data and transactions is crucial in terms of legal compliance and reputation.

The new technologies are not an end in themselves but rather a way to improve the customer experience. This was how Ricardo Segoviano, head of BBVA Open Platform Spain, explained it during the presentation event for the ‘World Retail Banking Report 2018‘, which lists BBVA as an example of successful collaboration in the drive to improve the digital banking experience via APIs.

For second year in a row, the European Commission has recognized BBVA as one of the 36 corporates that are doing more to collaborate with technological startups.

BBVA has been recognized by the Financial Times (FT), Google and a panel of leading European policy makers as one of the 100 digital pioneers in Europe. BBVA is the only major bank included in a special report from the Financial Times, ‘Europe’s Road to Growth,’ because of its innovative use of new technologies, as well as the cultural shift that the company has undertaken.

BBVA is one of the first five banks invited to join a blockchain forum organized by the European Commission (EC) in Brussels to, subsequently, join the launch of the IATBA, an European platform to promote the use of blockchain. The purpose of this publicly-sponsored initiative is to garner support from private blockchain and DLT experts to contribute to outline the EU’s strategy regarding these technologies.