BBVA, Best Global Bank of the Year, according to The Banker

The BBVA Group was recognized as Global Bank of the Year by The Banker, the leading publication in the international financial world, which held the 2022 edition of its ‘Bank of the Year Awards’ last night. Luisa Gómez Bravo, the Global Head of Corporate & Investment Banking at BBVA (BBVA CIB), accepted the awards on the bank’s behalf from Joy Macknight, Editor of The Banker.

The publication valued BBVA’s leadership, using technology to offer the best customer experience, as well as its commitment to sustainability and support for its customers in the transition toward a more sustainable world with solutions for both individuals and businesses of all sizes. “The bank is also investing in the entrepreneur ecosystem, supporting fintechs and digital banks, which is helping to drive change in the global financial services industry,” Macknight added.

For BBVA Chair Carlos Torres Vila, “This recognition is confirmation of BBVA’s distinctive strategy to grow profitably with solid quarter-on-quarter results. This allows us to create value for our shareholders, relying on innovation and sustainability as strategic levers. In all of our markets, we have been pioneers in digitization to help our customers make better decisions when it comes to their money. We have also taken on a substantial role in supporting the transition to a more sustainable economy, with a dual focus on climate action and inclusive growth.”

The Banker stressed that BBVA continues to progress in its transformation, which gives it the flexibility it needs to test new solutions, form alliances and enter new markets. In this regard, the publication underscores that BBVA shares the lessons from one country to another, and tailors its offering in each country, as it demonstrated with the launch of BBVA Italy, with a retail banking platform in a new European market that is 100 percent digital.

In this sense, the British publication maintains that BBVA is transforming its relationship with customers toward a more autonomous, remote model, which will help the bank to prepare its business for the future. And even more Importantly, “BBVA is aware that not everyone is digitally savvy, and has therefore pledged to leave no one behind, supporting those on the margins of digitization through specific programs,” The Banker noted.

The Banker emphasized BBVA’s efforts in terms of sustainability, where it pointed to solutions such as the carbon footprint calculators - a pioneering initiative by the Group designed for individuals, SMEs and large corporations that is available in several of the countries where BBVA operates.

Winner in Western Europe, Spain, Peru and Colombia

BBVA was also recognized as Bank of the Year in Western Europe, Spain, Peru and Colombia due to its innovative approach, efforts related to sustainability and customer segmentation capabilities.

In Spain, The Banker pointed to initiatives such as the first simulator to help facilitate the decision to purchase an electric vehicle in Spain, and the marketing campaigns, which thanks to artificial intelligence, make it possible to enhance the personalization of products and services. In Peru, the publication valued its ability to innovate with the launch of smart cards and its sustainable commitment, with the first green mortgage in the country. Finally, the BBVA Colombia franchise stood out for the digitization of deep-rooted products, such as promissory notes, solutions for companies and security for online purchases.