Today in Frankfurt, BBVA officially launched its new digital bank in Germany. It combines cutting-edge technology, through one of the top financial apps in the world, with a compelling value proposition: an interest-bearing checking account paying three percent for the first 12 months, and a debit card with a three percent cashback on purchases - both paid monthly and completely free of charges, with no fees. “We’re bringing something new to Germany. A banking experience that combines the simplicity and convenience of a fee-free account, typical of digital actors, with the full range of products, reliability, and trust of a universal bank,” said BBVA CEO Onur Genç.

Garanti BBVA Crypto is partnering with Wyden, a global provider of institutional digital asset trading infrastructure, to strengthen its crypto service offering for retail and institutional clients. As part of the collaboration, Garanti BBVA Crypto will support trading pairs between the Turkish Lira, US Dollar, and other cryptocurrencies, expanding local market access and providing a seamless, efficient trading experience for Turkish investors.

Jamil Zaki earned his degree in Cognitive Neuroscience from Boston University, obtained a Ph.D. in Psychology from Columbia, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Harvard Center for Brain Science. He is currently a professor of Psychology and director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, where he has become an international authority on empathy, which he describes not as an innate trait but as one that can be trained through practices ranging from meditation to compassionate attention to others.

On Monday, BBVA Chair Carlos Torres Vila gave the opening remarks at the 42nd APIE Seminar at the Menendez Pelayo International University in Santander. During his presentation, the Chair stressed that Europe is at a turning point, requiring greater ambition, and a financial system with banks that are capable of competing on a global scale. In this context, he underscored that the proposed integration with Banco Sabadell is a firm commitment to Europe, Spain and Catalonia. “The transaction has already been approved by competent Spanish and European authorities, and is backed by remedies from BBVA. Now the decision is up to the shareholders,” he said.

The Frontiers of Knowledge Awards ceremony paid tribute to 20 leading figures in science and culture, recognized for their decisive contributions to the advancement of knowledge. Carlos Torres Vila, President of the BBVA Foundation, emphasized in his speech that we are living in complex times, marked by enormous challenges, but we also possess “extraordinary tools to confront them: science, technology and culture.”

The steel sector is responsible for seven percent of global CO2 emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. Thanks to cleantech companies like H2 Green Steel they are making headway in more sustainable production, reducing emissions by up to 95 percent in key processes.

Photo: Midjourney (AI)

With the slogan ‘Go Further’ as the central theme, nearly 1,600 BBVA professionals gathered in Madrid to explore the Group’s new 2025–2029 strategic plan. Officially presented in February, the teams responsible for the plan’s design and execution are now working through the details. At the opening of the event, BBVA Chair Carlos Torres Vila and CEO Onur Genç reflected on the achievements of the previous plan (2021-2024): profitable growth, over 14 million new target customers, and the early fulfillment of the sustainable business commitment, channeling €300 billion of sustainable finance one year ahead of schedule. They also conveyed their vision of the future: a competitive scenario, full of opportunity.

Ever wanted to manage your money better but weren’t sure where to start? BBVA has taken another step forward in its commitment to improving the financial health of its customers by launching a coach based on artificial intelligence (AI) that supports them in every financial decision. Integrated into the bank’s mobile app, the personal trainer analyzes your circumstances, helps you set goals, and suggests tailored plans so you can achieve your financial goals step by step.

The agreement contributes to the development of climate technologies, or cleantech, in a first-of-a-kind project to support European energy resilience, helping stabilize the power grid and promoting decarbonization in the energy industry.

BBVA Global Head of Sustainability and Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) Javier Rodríguez Soler affirmed that “BBVA is the 4th largest bank financing data centers in the U.S.,” based on data from January 1 through May 29, 2025*. During an event organized by the Spain–U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Houston, Rodríguez Soler said that “the U.S. will continue to be a strategic growth market for BBVA.”

Photo credit: Spain–U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Kay Firth-Butterfield, CEO of Good Tech Advisory and former Head of Artificial Intelligence at the World Economic Forum, reflected at BBVA’s FinAI Summit on the challenges of responsible artificial intelligence and on the kind of relationship society wants to forge with this technology: AI is not our best buddy or our partner, she stated, even though 20 percent of men in the United States have used it at some point “as a romantic partner, the person they talk to, the person they love. Is that the future we want with this technology?”.

The structural evolution of the financial landscape demands a constant pursuit of long-term value creation, strategic risk management, and progress towards more sustainable business models. BBVA Corporate & Investment Banking (BBVA CIB) takes an active role in addressing this reality through a global and specialised offering for its wholesale clients—designed to tackle today’s challenges while building tomorrow’s opportunities.

Garanti BBVA has contributed over $440 million in support to the Turkish economy by renewing its existing syndicated loan.

The bank offers tailored solutions that help large corporations tackle the challenges of the energy transition, regulatory environment, and the decarbonisation of production models. With a global presence and specialized approach, BBVA CIB supports its clients across five strategic sectors — energy, infrastructure and construction, industry and transportation, TMT, and consumer, retail and leisure — with the goal of becoming their financial partner of reference.

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.