Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

Banco de Bilbao and Banco de Vizcaya

The history of BBVA began in 1857 in Bilbao, a city located in the Basque part of northern Spain, when the Board of Trade promoted the creation of Banco de Bilbao as an issuing and discount bank.[9]

Banco de Vizcaya was founded in 1901 and carried out its first operations in Bilbao. Little by little, it spread throughout the country.[9]

In 1988, the merger agreement between Banco de Bilbao and Banco de Vizcaya was signed. And in 1989, the BBV brand was adopted.

Merger of BBV and Argentaria: Creation of BBVA

In 1991, the Spanish government of Felipe González created the public bank Argentaria, grouping in it the Spanish public banks. Subsequently, between 1993 and 1998 the process of privatization of the entity was carried out. BBV and Argentaria announced their merger project on 19 October 1999, with the aim of continuing to create value. The new bank (BBVA) was born with a significant size, a strong financial solvency and a large financial structure, an adequate geographical diversification of business and risks and, as a consequence of all this, a greater potential for profit growth.[9]

Acquisitions of Unnim Banc and Catalunya Banc

After several years dedicated to external growth, BBVA takes advantage of the restructuring of the financial system in Spain to grow especially in Catalonia, one of the regions where it had the lowest market share. To this end, it acquired between 2012 and 2014 the two financial groups nationalized by the Government of Spain (Unnim Banc and Catalunya Banc), which grouped 6 Catalan savings banks.

In 2020, BBVA entered into negotiations with smaller competitor Banco Sabadell to create Spain's second-biggest domestic lender by assets; according to Reuters, the bank would have nearly 600 billion euros ($710.52 billion) in assets in Spain and a combined market value, based on the share prices at the time, of 26.7 billion euros.[10] Shortly after, both parties ended their talks after failing to agree on price.[11] Later on in May 2024, BBVA presented a $13.11 billion takeover bid directly to Sabadell's shareholders. However, the Economy Ministry has the power to block any merger or acquisition of a bank, meaning that the Spanish government has six months to decide whether to block this takeover.[12]

In December 2024, BBVA was confirmed on getting approval for taking indirect control of Sabadell’s Mexican businesses.[13]

On January 30, 2025, BBVA plans to buy back shares worth 993 million euros ($1billion) after the Spanish market supervisor lifted their restriction on new repurchase plans it has imposed over BBVA’s takeover bid for Sabadell.[14]

Digital transformation

In 2007, the firm started an initiative to digitally transform the bank. Following implementation, it saw a 19% year-on-year increase in new customers. As of 2015, the total number of these clients stood at 14.8 million.[15]

In 2019, BBVA decided to unify its brand worldwide and introduced a new logo. This meant the disappearance of local names in Argentina (Francés), Mexico (Bancomer), Peru (Continental), and the United States (Compass). Garanti Bank, the Group's franchise in Turkey, changed its name to Garanti BBVA.[16]

In January 2021, BBVA said that it was looking for plans to lower the costs, then in February 2021, it was reported that BBVA was planning to cut around 3,000 jobs in Spain after its net profit fell 48% in the fourth quarter of 2020.[17]

In July 2025, BBVA launched cryptocurrency trading and custody services for retail clients in Spain, operating under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). It was among the first traditional banks in Europe to offer such services.[18]

In September 2025, BBVA announced the expansion of its institutional services through the adoption of Ripple’s cryptocurrency custody solution. The initiative is intended to strengthen the bank’s compliance with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation and broaden its involvement in digital asset markets.[19]

Latin America

The Banco de Vizcaya acquired the Commercial Bank of Mayagüez in Puerto Rico in 1979, a bank founded in 1967 by a group of merchants and industrialists. When it became BBVA Puerto Rico, in 1992 it began a growth stage through acquisitions, which gave rise to BBVA Puerto Rico.

In 1995, the group entered Peru, with the privatization and subsequent acquisition of Banco Continental, and in Mexico, with the purchase of Probursa, which later merged with BBVA Bancomer to form the financial group BBVA Bancomer that operates in the banking and insurance sector.

In 1996, it entered Colombia with the acquisition of Banco Ganadero, and Argentina with the acquisition of BBVA Francés. It also made new acquisitions in Mexico, buying Banca Cremí and Banco de Oriente.

In 1997, BBVA entered Venezuela by acquiring the Provincial Bank, which had been founded in 1953. It also expanded its presence in Argentina with the acquisition of Banco de Credito Argentino. It also entered into the pension funds business in Bolivia, founding BBVA Previsión AFP.

In 1998, the bank entered Chile after buying Banco BHIF, and AFP Provida one year later. It also entered Brazil with the purchase of Banco Excel-Econômico; and in Argentina, BBVA bought the insurer Consolidar, created in 1994.

In 2000, the merger of BBV Probursa with Bancomer occurred in Mexico to create BBVA Bancomer, the first bank in the country by volume of assets. At the beginning of 2004, the Group announced the takeover bid for 100% of the shares of Bancomer that did not yet belong to BBVA, buying all the shares of the Mexican bank. In 2004 it acquired 100% of Hipotecaria Nacional, a private entity specialized in the mortgage business.[26]

In 2001, the implementation of the unified platform for all businesses and all countries was completed, and the BBVA brand was installed in the Group's entities in Latin America.

In 2004, the banks of Chile (BHIF) and Colombia (Banco Ganadero) changed their commercial denomination and were simply called BBVA.

In 2006, through a public auction, it acquired the old savings and housing corporation, Banco Granahorrar de Colombia, whose shares belonged to the Grancolombian group, and with the financial and economic crisis of the late 90s, it passed into the hands of the state through Fogafin. Later, it merged with BBVA Colombia, creating one of the largest banking groups in the country.

In 2017 BBVA acquired the Mexican company Openpay, a startup fintech specializing in online payments.[27]

As of 6 July 2018 Scotiabank Chile assumed control of BBVA Chile, with which the legal trademark would be renamed Scotiabank Azul until its full integration with Scotiabank. The total change was made in October 2018.[28]

United States

In 2004, the Group began another line of international expansion with entry into the US market, with acquisitions of entities in the south of the country (Sunbelt region), taking advantage of the strength of its Mexican subsidiary BBVA Bancomer.

In the second quarter of the year, the Group announced the purchase of Valley Bank in California through BBVA Bancomer.

In 2005, it bought the Banco Laredo (located in Texas), and in 2006 the Texas Regional Bancshares (Texas State Bank).

In 2007, BBVA acquired Alabama Compass Bank in the US, strengthening its franchise in that country. Later, BBVA unified its corporate image in the country by reorganizing its entire portfolio of brands under the name "BBVA Compass".

In 2009, it acquired the Guaranty Bank in Texas, following the collapse of this entity.

In 2014, BBVA acquired the US digital banking company Simple for 117 million dollars. In its push towards a digital future in 2015 acquired the California company Spring Studio, specializing in user experience and digital design.

By 2018, BBVA USA was one of the 30 largest banks in the US.[29]

In 2020, BBVA USA was sold to PNC Financial Services for US$11.6 billion.[30]

Turkey

In 2010, the Group acquired 24.9% of the capital of Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS, the second largest bank in Turkey, and reached an agreement with the Dogus Group — the reference shareholder of Garanti — to manage the entity jointly. Subsequently, this participation increased to 25.01%. In November 2014, BBVA acquired an additional 14.89% of the Garanti bank from Dogus Holdings for €1.988 billion, bringing its share to 39.9% of the entity.[31]

In February 2017, it reached a new purchase agreement with Dogus to acquire 9.95% more from Garanti bank for €859 million, increasing its participation to 49.85%.[32]

On 15 November 2021, BBVA offered to purchase the remaining 50.15% of shares in Garanti bank.[33] In May 2022, BBVA reached a 86% stake in Garanti BBVA.[34]

Italy and Germany

In a shift from its traditional branch-based model, BBVA entered the Italian and German retail banking markets with fully digital, standalone neobank platforms.

BBVA launched its digital bank in Italy in 2021.[35] Rather than opening physical branches, the bank focused on a lean cost structure, offering free accounts, high-yield deposits, and a robust mobile application. Within four years, the Italian digital branch surpassed 700,000 customers.[36]

Following its launch in Italy, BBVA launched a similar digital bank in Germany in June 2025. While the German operation is completely branchless, it partnered with local networks to provide customers access to over 70,000 physical contact points for cash deposits and withdrawals.[37]

Portugal

In Portugal, BBVA operates a traditional universal banking model serving both individual retail clients and corporate entities. While the Portuguese division maintains a physical branch network in major cities, it heavily emphasizes a digital-first approach.[38]

Romania

BBVA's presence in Romania has historically been managed through its subsidiary, Garanti BBVA Romania (operated via its Turkish subsidiary, Garanti BBVA). However, on March 28, 2026, Raiffeisen Bank International announced an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Garanti BBVA Group Romania for approximately €591 million.[39]

IBEX 35

BBVA is included in the IBEX 35, the official index of the Spanish Continuous Market composed of the 35 most liquid stocks traded on continuous market. The BBVA has a market capitalization of 15,816 million euros, (09-30-20).[47]

Eurostoxx 50

BBVA bank lists in Eurostoxx 50 along with other banks like Santander Bank and Deutsche Bank.

NYSE

BBVA bank is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Mexican Stock Exchange

BBVA bank is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange.