It is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, and is present mainly in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, South America, Turkey, Italy and Romania.

[9] 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.

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

This meant the disappearance of local names in Argentina (Francés), Mexico (Bancomer), Peru (Continental), and the United States (Compass).

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.

It also entered Brazil with the purchase of Banco Excel-Econômico; and in Argentina, BBVA bought the insurer Consolidar, created in 1994.

[23] 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.

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

[25] 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 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.

[28] 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% .

In 2007, BBVA set up the Microfinance Foundation in Latin America, a non-profit organization created with the aim of promoting the sustainable development of entrepreneurs in vulnerable situations.

[36] In March 2022, BBVA invested 18.5 million euros in "LowerCarbon", a venture capital fund specializing in financing projects and companies focused on climate change.

[37] In July 2022, BBVA joined the "Carbonplace" platform as a founder with the aim of facilitating access to carbon credits for individuals and companies.

[38] In 2023, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) awarded BBVA the highest score in the banking category in the European region for the fourth consecutive year.

The EAGLE economies are expected to lead global growth in the next 10 years, and to provide important opportunities for investors.