BBVA has announced it has surpassed one million customers in Italy, marking a significant milestone in its five-year journey in the country. Carlos Torres Vila, Chair of BBVA, stated, "We have reached one million customers in Italy, reflecting the success of our 100% digital banking model. We are now entering a new phase in Italy, focused on becoming our customers' primary bank and deepening our relationships with them. Our commitment to Italy is long-term, and we want to continue growing in the country."
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Since its launch in October 2021, BBVA has offered a digital banking experience that combines simplicity with a wide range of financial products and services from its international banking group. Its offerings include attractive deposit rates, cashback promotions on card purchases, personal loans, mortgages, and investment solutions such as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This diverse suite of products has led to increased customer engagement, with more clients choosing BBVA for their everyday financial needs.
Walter Rizzi, Head of Digital Banking at BBVA Italy, commented on the success, emphasizing, "Our real success lies in the quality of the relationships we are building with our customers in Italy. Customers who join BBVA stay with us and increasingly trust us to manage their everyday finances, their savings and their major life projects through mortgages and loans."
BBVA has a history of over forty years in Italy, where it has operated through its Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) business. The bank aims to further enhance this segment by providing financing solutions, capital market services, and advisory expertise to assist Italian companies in their growth and international expansion, particularly in markets like the United States and Latin America. Additionally, BBVA is focused on supporting local companies in energy transition projects, sustainable infrastructure development, and investments in artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
The positive reception of BBVA's retail banking in Italy highlights the effectiveness of its strategy to expand through digital banks in Europe, harnessing its technological strengths. The success in Italy has also laid groundwork for BBVA's entry into Germany, where it launched its digital model in June 2025 and quickly reached 100,000 customers within its first year. Murat Kalkan, Global Head of Digital Banks at BBVA, stated, "Our digital banks are seeing a very positive reception in Italy and Germany, where BBVA combines the innovation and convenience of neobanks with the financial strength, security, and broad range of products of a bank with nearly 170 years of history and 80 million customers worldwide. Our efforts are now focused on strengthening our business in these two markets, with the aim of achieving sustainable and profitable growth."