BBVA

BBVA, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., is a Spanish multinational banking group headquartered in Madrid. It is one of the largest banks in Spain and a major global financial institution with operations in Europe, North and South America, and parts of Asia. The group focuses on retail banking, commercial banking, asset management, insurance, and specialized financial services, and emphasizes digital banking and sustainable finance.

History: The BBV name traces to the 19th and 20th centuries, formed from the merger of Banco Bilbao and Banco Vizcaya. In 1999 BBV merged with Argentaria, a state-backed banking group created from several Spanish banks, and the combined entity adopted the BBVA name in 2000. BBVA expanded through acquisitions, notably in Mexico (BBVA Bancomer) and Turkey (Garanti Bank).

In the United States, BBVA operated BBVA USA (formerly BBVA Compass) until its sale to PNC Financial Services, completed in 2021, after which BBVA exited US retail banking.

Operations and presence: The group maintains a diversified portfolio across retail and corporate banking, asset management, and insurance. It has a strong footprint in Spain and acts as a leading bank in several Latin American markets, with significant operations in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Argentina, as well as Turkey.

Governance: BBVA is publicly traded on the Spanish stock exchange and is part of the IBEX 35 index. It is governed by a board of directors and supervisory committees, with ownership distributed among institutional and retail investors.