BBVA Spain’s CEO, Peio Belausteguigoitia, made the case on Tuesday that the proposed integration with Banco Sabadell is a transaction to drive growth, and makes strategic sense. It fits with the bank’s vision for the future, seeking to create value for all stakeholders: customers, employees, shareholders and society as a whole. Speaking at the 20th IESE Banking Forum in Madrid, he stated that “the proposed integration with Banco Sabadell is a commitment to unite and combine the strengths of both banks in order to create a better financial institution than each bank on its own.”

Photo: The Country Manager of BBVA in Spain, Peio Belausteguigoitia, and Juan Rivera, Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting.

Maya Ackerman, known for her research in algorithmic music composition, reflected at BBVA's FinAI Summit on whether artificial intelligence is creative and how it can help humans achieve better results when developing their own creations.  Far from competing with human ingenuity, AI is emerging as an ally capable of unlocking ideas, inspiring new approaches, and enhancing our creative potential.

With global reach, sector-specific expertise and sophisticated financial solutions, BBVA CIB reaffirms its role as a strategic partner for the institutional segment. Its model combines technical capabilities, a sustainability focus and international coverage to meet investment, risk management and transition needs with precision.

BBVA’s Turkish franchise offers a wide range of digital solutions, catering to every financial need in the life cycle of the self-employed and SMEs and covering their entire ecosystem. It delivers services across all digital channels to streamline and accelerate business processes. The self-employed and SMEs are able to perform a variety of financial transactions, such as applying for credit, drawing on commercial loans, obtaining letters of guarantee, arranging checkbooks, and requesting POS terminals, all via Garanti BBVA’s mobile or internet channels without ever needing to visit a branch.

BBVA Chair Carlos Torres Vila announced a record-breaking investment plan at the opening of the National Meeting of Regional Advisors (RNCR) of BBVA Mexico, the financial institution’s most important meeting in the country.  In front of more than 500 members of the business community, the Chair reported that BBVA is now making an even more ambitious announcement: “more than 100 billion pesos by 2030”, approximately €4.57 billion. “It is not only an investment. It’s trust. It’s a long-term vision. It’s a commitment to the more than 30 million customers we serve in the country,” he said.

BBVA’s Country Manager in Spain, Peio Belausteguigoitia, confirmed on Thursday that an ample majority of Catalan SMEs stand to benefit from the remedies agreed to by BBVA with Spain’s National Markets and Competition Authority (CNMC). He made these remarks during a meeting with the Business Association of L’Hospitalet and Baix Llobregat (AEBALL), where he doubled down on the importance of strengthening the European business ecosystem to compete on equal terms with other major economies.

The BBVA Group has accomplished its 2025 Community Investment Objective a year ahead of schedule, aimed at fostering the development of the societies in which it operates. Between 2021 and 2024, the financial institution channeled €594 million into social endeavors, reaching out to nearly 106 million people

Garanti BBVA Crypto recently launched a variety of advanced new features on its mobile app. With nearly 100,000 users, the app is powered by the bank’s robust infrastructure and highest quality standards, ensuring a simple, fast and secure investment experience.

The cross-border business is emerging as a key driver for companies seeking global expansion beyond their domestic markets. Within this evolving landscape, BBVA Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) provides expert advice, tailored financial solutions, and an extensive global network that connects major financial hubs with emerging markets. Through an innovative approach and comprehensive risk management, the bank supports its clients’ international growth.

By getting involved, BBVA will help identify barriers, share best practices, and co-create financial instruments that accelerate improvements in energy efficiency and the decarbonization of the European building stock and industry.

Front cover photo: © European Union, 2025. Source: EC – Audiovisual Service.(CC BY 4.0)

The leading publication of financial information, of the Financial Times Group, presented BBVA its Technology Award for the world’s best bank for technology use. The Group’s new data platform, ADA, also received an award for the best banking transformation project in the world.

BBVA Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) has delivered a record-breaking first quarter 2025, achieving a top position in the Corporates Yankee Euro Capital Market.

Historian Josephine Quinn is the first woman to lead the Ancient History department at the University of Cambridge. She is also an honorary member of Wadham College and an emeritus fellow at Worcester College, both at the University of Oxford. Quinn is a well-known expert on the ancient Mediterranean, and her work questions many traditional ideas about identity, culture, and civilization.

In recent weeks, the role of the financial conglomerate has drawn renewed attention.  Some observers argue that several European banks are seeking to expand into insurance, hoping to qualify as conglomerates and benefit from more favorable capital requirements under the so-called Danish compromise.  But does this classification always serve a bank’s interests?  The answer hinges on the bank’s business model.  For some, the fit is natural; for others, it’s like slipping into shoes that are simply too big: awkward and ill-suited to their needs.

The first edition of BBVA’s FinAI Summit brought together international experts in artificial intelligence to address how its transformative potential should advance in parallel with its ethical, safe and responsible use. The financial sector must carry out its transformation without losing customers’ trust. Doing so requires a gradual, regulated approach that maintains human interaction, just like BBVA is already doing. Over 6,000 people attended the event in person and online.

You can watch the full event at finaisummit.com

The cleantech ecosystem is advancing at different rates. While technologies such as solar and wind power are already consolidated, innovations such as carbon capture and green hydrogen still have a long way to go. Reaching the maturity of these solutions is key to  sustainability and requires strategic investment to accelerate global decarbonization.

The Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) has authorized, in phase two and after 11 months of analysis, the combination of BBVA and Banco Sabadell. With this transaction the combined entity would result in the second-largest Spanish financial institution in terms of credit volume, after CaixaBank. The authorization is subject to a series of unprecedented remedies in the Spanish financial sector.

The digital revolution is transforming every economic sector—and financeis no exception. Cryptoassets, tokenization, and blockchain-basedtechnologies are accelerating an inevitable evolution. In this context,traditional banks face a historic opportunity: to lead this transformation bycombining their experience, credibility, and global reach with the agility andinnovation of the crypto ecosystem. The future isn’t about choosingbetween the old and the new—it’s about merging both worlds into aseamless experience.

In the first quarter of 2025, BBVA channeled approximately €29 billion into sustainable business initiatives, marking a 55 percent increase on the same period in 2024. This figure is part of the bank’s new target of channeling €700 billion into the sustainable business between 2025 and 2029, more than  double its previous target and also raising the bar, given the shorter timeframe involved (five years versus eight).

BBVA posted solid results in the first three months of the year. Yet another quarter, BBVA stood out for its distinctive profitability, with an ROTE over 20 percent, and its ability to create value for its shareholders, with a 14 percent yoy increase in the tangible book value per share plus dividends. The Group earned €2.7 billion, up 23 percent in current euros (+46 percent in constant euros), driven by greater activity. The loan portfolio grew by 15 percent in constant euros, with a strong performance of Spain and Mexico. In these two countries, lending for companies and businesses increased by 8.5 and 25 percent, respectively. These earnings strengthened even further BBVA’s capital position, with a CET1 ratio over 13 percent.

Luisa Gómez Bravo and Onur Genç took part in a recent episode of the Chief Future Officer Show, aired by Bloomberg Television and focusing on the role played by chief financial officers in companies. In the episode, BBVA’s Global Head of Finance cited the bank’s growth plans, especially its impending combination with Banco Sabadell in Spain, as well as its entry into Italy and Germany with a digital banking model: “It’s about delivering amazing profitability and returning that to shareholders, while continuing to invest.”

As climate change bites, a host of firms have started to develop ‘cleantech’ to cut emissions and help people cope with its effects. Decarbonizing the economy and fostering innovation are fast becoming sources of growth and new industry.  With a focus on sustainability and shifting to greener energy, BBVA invests in such ventures, supports firms with tailored finance, and offers advice through specialist funds.

Garanti BBVA was once again selected for the world’s most prestigious occupational healthand safety award at the 2025 International Safety Awards, organized by the U.K.-based non-profit organization, the British Safety Council. Of the 350 Turkish organizations that applied for the award, Garanti BBVA was the only financial institution to receive the award for the sixth year in a row.

BBVA has successfully renewed the Tier IV Gold certification for its Data Processing Center (DPC) in Tres Cantos (Madrid), the highest recognition awarded by the Uptime Institute for the management and running of these cutting-edge technology complexes. This achievement has been made possible thanks to the implementation of more than 30 energy-saving measures in recent years.

Garanti BBVA has launched another highly innovative digital banking solution tailored for its corporate and sole trader customers. Thanks to the new digital service—a first in the industry in terms of scope and variety—corporate and sole trader customers can instantly check their loan agreements, credit limits, risk facilities, bank guarantees, real estate mortgages held as collateral, and valuations or appraisals, along with information on the latest prices and fees.

At a time of transformation and growth in global financial markets, BBVA CIB reaffirms its commitment to becoming the key strategic partner for institutional clients. With a specialized approach and a long-term vision, the bank aims to anticipate industry needs and offer solutions tailored to an ever-evolving environment. In this interview, Juan Blasco, Head of Institutional Business at BBVA CIB, explains how the bank is addressing this challenge.