Carlos Méndez

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms, also referred to as alternative lending, came into being a decade ago in order to make traditional financial industry services more available to the ordinary citizen.

Since then, the sector has entered a phase of permanent transformation, and the initial idea to “steal” lending business from banks has given way to another concept: partnerships. The sector has now partnered with banks to reach persons with few possibilities to obtain loans due to lack of a credit history or other limitations.

“Everledger is a digital, global ledger that tracks and protects items of value… and it’s on the blockchain.” Nearly seven months have passed since Everledger CEO and founder Leanne Kemp used this pitch to explain Everledger at the BBVA Open Talent 2015 Europe finals. After winning the European title of BBVA’s startup contest, Everledger has continued its hard work and achieved several major accomplishments, including moving into new areas like fine art and ethical supply chain finance – with more on the way. [Just as of last week, Everledger was included in the prestigious ranking The FinTech 50 of 2016]

In 2011, Anil Aggarwal and Jonathan Weiner - Google employees at the time - organized an event in Las Vegas that aimed to bring together the main fintech actors. Five years later, Money20/20 has become the international benchmark for innovation in financial services.

This year, the fintech event will take place in Europe for the first time ever. The April 4th -7th Copenhagen event will include participants from startups, entrepreneurs, fintech executives and regulators. BBVA CEO Carlos Torres Vila will represent the bank at Money 20/20 and will be the only Spanish executive to be featured in the conference’s main stage.

It's a curious phenomenon. Technology can reach the remotest places on the planet, where even the most basic commodities cannot.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, 12% of adults –64 million people– have an account on their mobile phone, 10% more than in the rest of the world (2%). The financial inclusion of the entire population in many countries is becoming a means of furthering their development. The goals of promoting access to banking services are among those underpinning the initiatives supported by BBVA in the field of fintech, including competitions for emerging companies such as BBVA Open Talent.  

After receiving a full banking license in June 2015, Atom Bank became UK's first mobile-only bank. The bank is due to launch shortly in Great Britain, sometime during the first quarter of 2016. In this Bank NXT podcast, Atom Bank CEO Mark Mullen talks about user experience, the importance of mobile technology in the banking business and, ultimately, about the future of banking.