What BBVA is and where it is based
BBVA is the brand of the group headed by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., a Spanish company with tax identification number A48265169. Its registered office is at Plaza de San Nicolás, 4, 48005 Bilbao, Biscay. Corporate contact information distinguishes this address from its central services in Madrid, including Ciudad BBVA at Calle Azul, 4, and its central services at Gran Vía, 12, Bilbao. Sources: BBVA legal notice and identity; Registered office and central services.
This profile uses consolidated BBVA Group figures. Banks and companies in other countries enter that scope under the consolidation rules; a shared brand does not remove their legal identities. Group figures must not be added again to subsidiary figures when measuring its size. Sources: Audited 2025 consolidated income statement.
History: Banco de Bilbao, BBV and Argentaria
Its principal historical predecessor is Banco de Bilbao, which began operating on 24 August 1857. The corporate archive describes a group of 106 founders associated with the city’s commercial and industrial development. It identifies Ambrosio de Orbegozo as director of the founding board, alongside other promoters. This collective origin should not be reduced to attributing BBVA’s entire history to one person. Sources: Historical archive: foundation of Banco de Bilbao.
Banco de Vizcaya was founded in 1901; its 1988 merger with Banco de Bilbao created BBV. BBV and Argentaria came together in 1999 to form BBVA. International expansion included Banco Continental in Peru, Banco Ganadero in Colombia, Banco Francés in Argentina and Bancomer in Mexico. Investment in Garanti in 2010 added a major presence in Türkiye. These are distinct stages and entities, rather than a single founding of today’s group in 1857. Sources: History of BBVA and its constituent banks.
Shareholders and control
BBVA is a listed company. The capital note in its 2025 accounts records BlackRock’s July notification of 7.158% of voting rights: 7.076% attached to shares and 0.082% through financial instruments. It also records a 4.968% notification by Capital Research and Management Company. These are positions reported for that year-end, not percentages presented here as updated daily. Sources: Capital and shareholders: 2025 accounts, note 26.
The same note states that BBVA is not aware of holdings through which control is exercised over the bank. It separately identifies custodian banks holding securities for others. Custodians, fund managers and ultimate beneficial owners are not interchangeable categories; foreign investors do not automatically make BBVA a subsidiary of a foreign parent. Sources: Capital and shareholders: 2025 accounts, note 26.
Leadership and organisation
The corporate chart checked on 8 November 2026 identifies Carlos Torres Vila as chair and Onur Genç as chief executive officer. It distinguishes country managers from global areas including corporate and investment banking, commercial client solutions, retail client solutions and digital banks. Group leadership can therefore be distinguished from management of each national bank or individual business line. Sources: Current BBVA organisational chart.
Business and international presence
BBVA provides personal and business banking, lending, payments, investment, savings and insurance services. Its 2025 segment reporting distinguishes Spain, Mexico, Türkiye, South America, Rest of Business, and Corporate Centre and adjustments. The scope includes BBVA México and Garanti BBVA alongside South American entities. Rest of Business covers activities that should not be treated as one national subsidiary. Sources: Segment results, note 6.
At the end of 2025 the group reported 127,174 employees and more than 81.2 million active customers. Employees were located in over 25 countries. Active customers are distinct from total customers, and comparisons between banks require retaining the issuer’s definition. Similarly, total workforce and the population covered by an occupational health table need not coincide: the OSH section identifies its exclusions. Sources: 2025 group profile and reach; Year-end 2025 workforce and locations; Occupational prevention: practices, representation and scope.
2025 figures: banking income and profit
The latest full annual period used is 1 January to 31 December 2025. The audited consolidated income statement records gross income of €36,931 million and attributable profit of €10,511 million. Gross income is the selected banking income measure: it combines net interest income, net fees and other financial, operating and insurance results. Assets, deposits and lending volumes are not treated as turnover. Sources: Audited 2025 consolidated income statement.
Gross income increased by 4.1% in current euros compared with 2024. The 16.3% increase appearing in other communications is calculated at constant exchange rates. Attributable profit grew by 4.5% and 19.2%, respectively. The difference reflects currency effects, particularly depreciation of the Mexican peso against the euro; the rates are not interchangeable. This profile uses reported amounts in current euros as its size reference. Sources: Results at current and constant exchange rates.
Digital banking and artificial intelligence
On 26 June 2025 BBVA launched its digital retail bank in Germany, where it already operated corporate and investment banking. This extended the model introduced in Italy in late 2021. The milestone describes an operating launch, rather than a planned expansion. Launch offers are not reproduced here as though they remain current. Sources: Digital bank launch in Germany, 2025.
In an update dated 24 April 2026, BBVA reported access to generative AI tools for almost its entire workforce and over 280,000 hours of AI training during 2025. It also described an assistant for employees in Spain and Mexico answering questions about benefits, payroll and career development. Access, training and use are different indicators; they do not by themselves demonstrate reduced mental workload or psychosocial risks. Sources: AI and employees: April 2026 update.
Prevention management: measures and coverage
The 2025 report places its Occupational Risk Prevention Plan within the Safety, Health and Wellbeing Standard, with global principles adapted to national requirements. It describes risk assessments, including psychosocial assessments; specific assessment of particularly vulnerable and pregnant employees; inspections; accident investigation; training; health surveillance; and coordination of works and services. Its emergency plan organises responsibilities, training and liaison with external services. Sources: Occupational prevention: practices, representation and scope.
The report states that 99.2% of employees are represented on health and safety committees. Separately, its methodology notes that the OSH chapter covers companies representing 97.8% of the official workforce and lists exclusions. Neither percentage is ISO 45001 certification coverage. The report mentions certification in some locations, using Argentina as an example; it does not establish uniform certification across the group. Sources: Occupational prevention: practices, representation and scope.
Accidents and absence: what the figures show
BBVA reported 311 lost-time occupational accidents in 2025, compared with 280 in 2024, and a frequency rate of 1.4 per million hours, compared with 1.3. The severity rate was 0.03 lost days per 1,000 hours in both years. It also recorded 12 occupational disease cases, compared with six. These figures therefore do not support a claim that accidents declined during 2025. Sources: 2025 accidents and wellbeing programme.
The table excludes commuting accidents and relapses. Hours are calculated from average workforce multiplied by annual working hours, within the companies covered by the chapter. The 1.3% absence rate uses a different formula: calendar days lost through illness and accidents, including commuting accidents, divided by 365 days per employee, excluding maternity leave. Absence, frequency and severity cannot be used interchangeably. Sources: Occupational prevention: practices, representation and scope; 2025 accidents and wellbeing programme.
Work Better, Enjoy Life and occupational health
Its health and wellbeing programme is organised around Work Better and Enjoy Life. The former includes digital disconnection, flexibility, listening and effective meetings, linking it to work organisation. The latter covers physical and mental health activities, including psychological support for employees and cohabiting family members, sleep initiatives, prevention campaigns, and back-health and postural training. These are practices described by BBVA, not an independent assessment of implementation at every site. Sources: 2025 accidents and wellbeing programme.
The Occupational Health Portal brings together information on remote working, accidents, medical examinations, road safety, pregnancy, first aid and protocols. The report describes satisfaction surveys used for some initiatives: for example, 94% of respondents considered skin and retina screening in Spain important. That perception does not measure reduced disease. The documentation identifies concrete measures while requiring availability, participation, satisfaction and health outcomes to remain distinct. Sources: Initiative assessment and Occupational Health Portal.
Sustainable business and what the figures mean
BBVA reports approximately €134 billion channelled into sustainable business during 2025: €104 billion related to environmental activities and about €30 billion to social activities under its classification criteria. Its €700 billion target covers the entire 2025–2029 period. Channelled volume measures financial activity across different products and forms of intermediation; it is not the bank’s gross income or a figure for avoided emissions. Sources: 2025 sustainable business and 2025–2029 target.
Sabadell: a bid that lapsed
On 16 October 2025 the CNMV announced the unsuccessful outcome of BBVA’s bid for Banco Sabadell. Acceptances represented 25.33% of share capital and 25.47% of voting rights, below the required threshold. The offer lapsed and acceptances became ineffective. The announced transaction therefore did not bring Sabadell into the group, and Sabadell figures are not added to BBVA’s in this profile. Sources: CNMV: unsuccessful Sabadell takeover bid.
Cenyt case and interpreting public information
BBVA’s official update checked on 8 November 2026 states that an order opening oral proceedings against the bank was issued on 9 July 2026 for alleged bribery and discovery and disclosure of secrets, within the part of the Tándem case concerning Cenyt services. According to that publication, the order does not set a trial start date. BBVA denies that the facts establish criminal responsibility for the entity and states that it is cooperating with the authorities. Sources: Cenyt case: update published by BBVA.
The procedural status is attributed to the dated source, without presenting alleged conduct as proven. The case provides governance and supplier-control context; it does not establish OSH breaches. Equally, the wellbeing programmes described here do not resolve a separate judicial matter or by themselves establish the quality of all working conditions across the group. Sources: Cenyt case: update published by BBVA; Occupational prevention: practices, representation and scope.
Frequently asked questions
What does BBVA stand for?
The parent’s name is Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. BBVA is the group brand, with its registered office in Bilbao. Sources: BBVA legal notice and identity. [1]
What was its income in 2025?
Audited consolidated gross income was €36,931 million. This banking income measure is distinct from assets, deposits and loans. Sources: Audited 2025 consolidated income statement. [1]
Did the takeover bid bring Sabadell into BBVA?
No. On 16 October 2025 the CNMV announced that the offer had lapsed because the minimum acceptance threshold was not met. Sabadell figures are not included in this profile’s scope. Sources: CNMV: unsuccessful Sabadell takeover bid. [1]
Did lost-time accidents decrease in 2025?
No: BBVA reported 311, compared with 280 in 2024. Frequency rose from 1.3 to 1.4 per million hours. The measure excludes commuting accidents and relapses and follows the OSH chapter’s stated coverage. Sources: 2025 accidents and wellbeing programme. [1]
