BBVA wins seven awards at Global Finance’s Best Investment Bank Awards 2020
BBVA stood out at the “Global Finance Best Investment Bank Awards” for yet another year. With 33 years of experience reporting on international financial markets and readers in more than 180 countries, the magazine presented the bank seven awards in different locations in recognition of BBVA’s capacity in investment banking and sustainable finance products and solutions.
Like every year, the U.S.-based publication bestowed its awards on the best financial institutions in the world. BBVA was once again recognized as the best investment bank in Spain, an award it has received every year since 2012. It was also named the best investment bank in Mexico, a title it has held since 2015. Meanwhile, Garanti BBVA was recognized as the best investment bank in Turkey, an award it received for the first time in 2018.
This year, the magazine especially valued the wide range of financial products offered by BBVA’s investment banking area that are tied to sustainability. In the regional classification, the bank managed to rise to the category of the Best Investment Bank for Sustainable Finance in both Western Europe and Latin America. In addition, Garanti BBVA’s sustainable finance business was also recognized in central and eastern Europe.
On the other hand, thanks to its technological efforts and significant advances in digital transformation, the bank was also given the title of Best Investment Bank for New Financial Technology in Latin America for the third year in a row. This recognition of investment banking in the region complements the award the bank received in 2019 for the most innovative digital bank in Latin America, due to BBVA’s leadership of the sector’s digital transformation process, and its innovative products and digital services.
To select the winners, the editors of Global Finance and industry experts took into account the applications sent by the various banks, and a series of business criteria: market share; number and size of operations, service and advice offered; structuring capabilities; distribution network; and innovation, among others.
In a press release announcing the winners, the publisher and editorial director of Global Finance Joseph D. Giarraputo stressed that: “Investment banking is a critical factor driving global growth. Global Finance’s Best Investment Bank awards identify the financial institutions that deliver innovative and practical solutions for their clients in all kinds of markets”.
A focus on sustainability
Three of the seven awards the bank received in this 2020 edition of the awards are related to sustainable finance, one of the pillars of BBVA’s responsible banking model. As announced in February 2018, BBVA “went green” with its Pledge 2025, the bank’s strategy to combat climate change and foster sustainable development, which includes the bank’s sustainable financing activities. As of December 31, 2019, BBVA has already allocated €30 billion of the €100 billion it set as a goal for 2025.
Over the past five years, BBVA has structured and participated in inaugural green, social and sustainable bonds, and was also one of the pioneering banks on a global level in the structuring and coordination of some of the first green loans. This line of work was considered worthy of recognition according to Global Finance magazine’s criteria.