BBVA Due Diligence : Know Your Customer

BBVA Group General Information

BBVA has designed a portal where you can find:

  • Basic data: number of clients, employees, geographical presence, branches & subsidiaries
  • Organizational model
  • Banking model in BBVA
  • Geographical presence
  • History of BBVA

Here you will find our annual report  about activities, relevant facts, governance model and financial state of BBVA group during the last fiscal year.

Specifically, this report contains:

  • Main highlights
  • Financial information
  • Business areas
  • BBVA Strategy
  • Primary stakeholders

Financial reports from 2009 until now:

  • Consolidated financial statements, management report and audit report
  • Pilar III Report
  • Quarterly reports and Results presentations
  • Regulatory Filings

INFORMATION ABOUT BBVA SHARE

  • Share key figures: number of shares issued, share capital, maximum and minimum price…
  • Historical lookup
  • Investment calculator
  • Shareholders remuneration
  • Equity analysts
  • ADRs
  • Significant events

Access to BBVA Share site

 

QUOTATION ON STOCK MARKETS

Follow the evolution of the BBVA share throughout the day in the various exchanges where trading. Here you will find key information about our presence in secondary markets: Madrid, Mexico and New York Stock Exchange.

Access to Quotation on Stock Markets of BBVA share site

REPORTS AND BENEFITS FOR BBVA SHAREHOLDERS

As an exercise of transparency, we have designed an special portal to keep our shareholders up to date on all important information regarding the share and the group as well as offering special products and the opportunity to make suggestions:

  • Shareholders report
  • Results presentation
  • FAQs
  • Contacts for shareholders
  • Financial benefits

Access to BBVA Shareholders site

 

BBVA MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

  • On February 1, 2022, BlackRock, Inc. reported to the SEC that it beneficially owned 7.2% of BBVA’s common stock.
  • On February 11, 2021, GQG Partners LLC reported that it directly had voting power over 3.090% of BBVA’s common stock (all voting rights were attributed to shares).
  • As of February 28, 2022, no other person, corporation or government beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, five percent or more of BBVA’s shares. BBVA’s major shareholders do not have voting rights which are different from those held by the rest of its shareholders. To the extent known to us, BBVA is not controlled, directly or indirectly, by any other corporation, government or any other natural or legal person. As of February 28, 2022, there were 815,786 registered holders of BBVA’s shares, with an aggregate of 6,667,886,580 shares, of which 718 shareholders with registered addresses in the United States held a total of 1,831,262,472 shares (including shares represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”)). Since certain of such shares and ADRs are held by nominees, the foregoing figures are not representative of the number of beneficial holders.

Access to public declaration in 20-F Form requested by SEC

BBVA ISSUANCES AND MATURITY PROFILE

Here you will find information  about current BBVA outstanding programs and maturities of wholesale issues by its nature.

Access to Debt Investors site

 

BBVA RATINGS

Access to the BBVA’s qualifications (from Long term to Financial strenght) by some of the main rating agencies: Fitch, Moody’s, S&P and DBRS.

Access to BBVA Ratings site

To help shareholders and investors understand how the BBVA’s system of Corporate Governance works, this website contains documents pertinent to it.

In this section you will find:

  1. Bylaws
  2. General Meeting regulation and board of directors
  3. Board committees

 

Compliance

BBVA CODE OF CONDUCT

  • The Board of Directors of BBVA considers that Corporate Integrity -understood as a systematic adherence to strict standards of ethical behavior in the company- constitutes a source of sustained value and it is a fundamental requirement that any organization needs to maintain society’s trust.
  • According to this statement, BBVA Group has a ”Code of Conduct” where the fundamental principles of ethical behavior are defined and the guidelines to conduct businesses and activities are established for all the members of BBVA Group.
  • The BBVA ”Code of Conduct” also sets the necessary guidelines to ensure that Corporate Integrity is manifested in the relationships between BBVA Group and its customers, employees and managers, suppliers and third parties.
  • Therefore, BBVA has a compliance culture materialized in the BBVA Group ”Code of Conduct” and a Compliance Function group wide.

Access to BBVA ‘Code of Conduct’

 

COMPLIANCE FUNCTION

  • The Compliance Function in BBVA Group is in charge of managing the compliance risk which in line with the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) concept is defined as “the risk of legal or regulatory sanctions, material financial loss, or loss to reputation a bank may suffer as a result of its failure to comply with laws, regulations, rules, related self-regulatory organization standards, and codes of conduct applicable to its banking activities.”
  • Unless specific local regulations indicate otherwise, the common compliance remit in BBVA covers the following matters:

-Conduct in markets

-Treatment of conflicts of interest

-Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism

-Personal data protection

  • In accordance with international best practices and for the purpose of effectively managing the compliance risk, the Compliance Function has developed and implemented an internal compliance risk management model which defines the way the risks are managed and the elements needed for risk mitigation (policies and procedures, tools, monitoring, training…).
  • Furthermore, along with other specialized control functions, compliance units take a key role in the BBVA Group’s Corporate Assurance model which has been implemented for an advanced corporate risk management.
  • As a regulated financial institution and according to its bylaws, the compliance function development and fulfillment are continuously monitored by the applicable Supervisory Bodies, as well as, the Top Management and Board Committees.

 

ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL

  • The Compliance function in BBVA is configured by a Corporate Unit and by Local Units in the countries where the BBVA Group conducts its activities.
  • Compliance Units report lines are established in the President support Units; they have also direct reporting lines to the Board Committees in every country, in order to ensure independency.
  • The Compliance Function in BBVA Group has qualified direct professionals group wide and according to the regulations and best practices, they have resources and no restrictions to access to the information needed to develop its activities.

 

 

BBVA POLICY ON CONDUCT IN SECURITY MARKETS

  • The policy of conduct in the securities markets develops the guidelines laid down in the BBVA Group’s Code of Conduct regarding securities markets, and includes a series of principles and general procedural guidelines that are widely accepted internationally and designed to uphold the integrity of the markets.
  • Specifically, it contains the minimum procedural guidelines that everyone in the Group have to observe regarding the treatment of privileged information, the prevention of securities price manipulation, the management of potential conflicts of interest that may arise and those market operations undertaken on their own accord by employees.

Access to BBVA Group Policy on conduct in the securities markets

 

FAQ

1. How does BBVA ensure that institutional/ personal actions of BBVA Group professionals on the Securities Markets are carried out in strict compliance with prevailing legislation and in accordance with ethical standards intended to foster transparency on the markets and to preserve investors’ interests at all times?

• BBVA Group has a ”Code of Conduct” which includes standards of personal ethical behavior and, more specifically, general market-conduct behavior standards which are developed through the “Policy of Conduct on the Securities Markets”. This policy, approved by the Board of Directors of BBVA SA., establishes the minimum standards to be respected with respect to privileged information, Price Manipulation, Conflicts of Interest and own-account trading for all the people that comprise BBVA. In each jurisdiction, the Policy is supplemented with a set of Internal Standards of Conduct on Securities Markets.

 

2. How does BBVA assure that there is no price manipulation by any employee in the Markets?

• The Internal Standards of Conduct on the securities markets states the restrictions and obligations by any person or entity engaging directly or indirectly in activities related to the securities market.

• In addition, BBVA has policies, procedures and controls to detect and analyze red flags of potential market abuse and to potentially notify the relevant supervisory authorities, through BBVA Compliance Dept., when there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a transaction is using privileged information or constitutes a practice distorting the free formation of prices, on the basis of applicable regulations.

See more in BBVA ”Internal Standards of Conduct on Securities Markets”

 

3. How does BBVA proceed to safeguard privileged information and control the flow of information?

• Please see detailed information and measures in this regard in the “Policy of Conduct on the Securities Markets” and the “Internal Standard of Conduct” and ”Internal standards of conduct on Securities Markets”.

 

4. How does BBVA manage the inherent conflicts of interests between the research area and any department in charge of investment banking, corporate finance or investment management services?

• Research departments shall act with total independence from the rest of the departments or companies of the BBVA Group. No analyst shall be subject to any supervision or control whatsoever by any employee from departments providing investment banking services or any other department with which a conflict may arise.

• Standards aimed at preserving the impartiality and objectivity of research analysts are generally included in Chapter 18 of the ”Internal Standard of Conduct on Securities Markets” and developed through the ‘BBVA Corporate Procedure on Analysts and Research Analysis’, which is not available to the public but is aligned with both E.U. and US applicable standards.

 

5. How does BBVA prevent, manage and/or resolve any conflict of interest?

  • BBVA has implemented a set of measures in accordance with the potential conflict situations that may arise in each of the areas involved in investment activities and ancillary services:
  • Establishment of Information Barriers: In order to guarantee that decisions are adopted autonomously within each area and to anticipate the appearance and existence of potential conflicts of interest, BBVA has established a policy on Chinese Walls arrangements.
  • In addition, BBVA has defined a prevention and management policy in the provision of investment and ancillary services.

Access to BBVA summary of ”Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest

  • The Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorist Activities (henceforth referred to jointly as the Prevention of Money Laundering) constitutes, above all, a priority objective that the BBVA Group associates with its pledge to promote and uphold the well-being of the different communities in which it operates.
  • For the BBVA Group, ensuring that its products and services are not used for illegal purposes likewise constitutes an essential requirement for safeguarding its corporate integrity, and thereby one of its main assets, namely, the trust of people and institutions it deals with on a day-to- day basis (customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, etc.).
  • To achieve the above two objectives, as a global financial group with branches and subsidiaries that operate in numerous countries, the BBVA Group has adopted a Model for Managing the Risk of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorist Activities. This Model is followed in all the entities forming part of the BBVA Group, and not only takes into account the regulations on prevention of money laundering in the jurisdictions in which BBVA operates, but also incorporates the best practices of the international financial industry in this regard, as well as the recommendations issued by international entities such as the FATF (Financial Action Task Force).
  • This Model is made up of the following elements:

-An organizational structure with the resources required to manage this function and a clear assignment of responsibilities in each unit.

-A body of regulations that determines the obligations and care required in this sphere; particularly important are those relating “know your customer” (KYC).

-The implementation of measures monitoring customers, aimed at identifying possible suspicious activities and guaranteeing they are reported to the competent authorities.

-The execution of communication and training plans for employees. These plans are designed according to the level of exposure of each group at risk of money laundering. Its aim is to maintain an appropriate level of sensitivity and provides the capacity required to comply with the applicable law.

-Permanent communication between Head Office and all the subsidiaries and branches of the BBVA Group, to ensure continuous monitoring and supervision in this regard.

-Finally, the need for independent review, with the aim of verifying and checking the implementation and effectiveness of the rest of the elements of the Model independently.

Access to AML-Wolfsberg Questionnaire in the section ‘Documents issued by BBVA Group’

 

SCOPE & FRAMEWORK

  • Following the European Directive on Markets in Financial Instruments (MiFID), BBVA has developed  an order execution policy (“Execution Policy”).
  • The aim is to ensure that the best possible results are offered to our clients when executing orders relating to securities on their behalf, or arranging for any such orders to be executed through the agency of an intermediate broker.
  • The Execution Policy states: clients affected, financial instruments subject to and execution venues/ intermediaries used by BBVA.

 

GUIDELINES

  • BBVA will take all reasonable steps to achieve best execution.
  • In exceptional circumstances, BBVA may determine that other executions factors are more important than price in obtaining the best possible execution result.
  • BBVA reserves the right not to accept orders with specific instruction if that could prevent BBVA from obtaining the best result.
  • Bilateral negotiation for those financial instruments excluded from the execution policy are not executed on behalf of Clients.
  • BBVA is required to obtain the Client’s prior consent to the policy.

Access to BBVA ”Summary of order Execution Policy”

USA PATRIOT ACT

In this section you will find the USA Patriot Act Certificate, essential to initiate or maintain any correspondent banking relationship with any financial institution or brokers/dealers from USA. This formal requirement is imposed by USA Patriot Act Law.

Access to USA Patriot Act

 

FATCA

  • The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) entered in force 1 July 2014. It is a legislation to encourage enhanced tax compliance and transparency with respect to US citizens or residents.
  • The FATCA Status for BBVA SA is Reporting Model 1 FFI.

 

CORPORATE ASSURANCE

  • Starting in January 2013, the BBVA Group has strengthened its internal control model by incorporating it into a scheme of governance called Corporate Assurance.
  • The internal control model is structured into 3 lines of defense made up of the Business Units, Control Specialists and Internal Audit.

 

MITIGATING OPERATIONAL RISK

  • Elaboration of policies and procedures for mitigating or controlling operational risk: definition of responsibilities and controls for each activity. Each process owner has to make sure that the main inherent risks are mitigated, and that the designed controls are carried out in due time and proper form.
  • Testing on those activities and controls: Internal Audit and CIB Internal Control (both independent areas from businesses and administrations activities) areas carry out periodic tests on the different controls and activities performed by the different units in order to ensure the fulfillment defined in the model.

 

MONITORING OPERATIONAL RISK

Under this framework, BBVA Group model monitors the operational risk following two streams:

  • Measuring of outstanding risks.
  • Following up processes through specific committees.

 

Business Continuity

  • BBVA have written Business Continuity Plans (BCP) and Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP) that outline the procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency or any other disruption of its normal business activity. Those plans enable the resumption of operations by the following business day, with minimal disturbance to counterparties and the market.
  • Business Continuity Plans are designed for each critical BBVA building where there is business activity  and it is focused on exceptional and unpredictable crisis situations that could affect our activity such as: Natural disasters, Infrastructure failures, external attacks, human failure, etc. Each critical building has a backup centre (or contingency center) with independent hardware and communications. In case of a disaster, it is possible to access to all critical applications and data from that Contingency Center in a short period of time.
  • Disaster Recovery Plans are procedures that cover any contingency action to manage in case of disruption of BBVA systems and applications. Our main systems are physically located in Madrid and are covered under the General Backup Policy of BBVA Group. In case that these systems are not available, DRPs could be activated to get the systems available from another building.
  • BBVA counts with a specific department in charge of developing a methodology to build and maintain BCP and DRP in BBVA Group. That Methodology is aligned with the recommendations of Business Continuity Institute (BCI), world’s leading membership and certifying organization for Business Continuity, and with the Principles of International Regulation.
  • We have a Business Continuity Committee who is responsible for the organization, maintenance and development of BBVA Business Continuity Plan. Under a disaster or a very serious situation that affects people and/or involves partial or total stop of activity or, under a threat of that kind of event, an immediate management of the situation must be assumed by the Business Continuity Committee (BCC).
In BBVA, our Business Continuity Plans are tested once a year. We usually plan two different types of tests to be ready for any disruption or contingency:
  • A functional test: involve critical staff in simulation exercises on the contingency center.
  • A technical test: all the systems and applications are reviewed by technical staff.

Corporate Responsibility

BBVA understands Corporate Social Responsibility (hereinafter “CSR”) as the responsibility that corresponds to the Bank through the impact of its activities on society. To fulfill this responsibility, BBVA integrates social, environmental and ethical concerns as well as those concerning human rights and stakeholders in its daily business and relationships with them.

Through its CSR policy, the BBVA Group must contribute to the following objectives:

  • To carry out its activity in a responsible manner and place people at the core of its purpose.
  • To maximize the creation of sustainable and shared value for its shareholders and for other stakeholders and the wider society in which it operates.
  • To prevent and mitigate the possible negative impacts caused by its business activity.
  • To improve the reputation of BBVA

Access to BBVA Principles and Policies

Customers and BBVA Employees are one of our priorities. Here you will find the main lines of our Corporate Responsibility Report, focus on our figures and strategies to work for a better future for them:

 

COSTUMERS

The best customer experience

BBVA has set up a new global unit called Customer Solutions, geared to providing the best customer experience. At BBVA we have been preparing for success in this new environment. Our goal is to be the best Bank for our customers.

IReNe and Feedback

Over the last four years, the Customer Experience areas have consolidated the implementation of a global methodology based on customer recommendations, called IReNe (Net Recommendation Index). Progress is being made in the way we listen to our customers, giving us an in-depth understanding of their needs.

Complaints and claims management

Customer complaints and claims are an excellent starting point for improving BBVA Group’s processes because they tell us exactly which areas need to be changed to make life easier for our customers

Customer Protection

In 2015, as part of the organizational reconfiguration of the Engineering area, a control function called Engineering Risk & Corporate Assurance has been set up, with the aim of developing and maintaining the control model, as well as managing active risks related to business and technological processes, within the framework of the Corporate Assurance model.

Transparent, Clear and Responsible Communication

The project for Transparent, Clear and Responsible Communication (TCR) has the goal of helping our customers to make informed decisions over the whole life cycle of their relations with the Bank.

Financial Literacy

Financial literacy (FL) is one of the strategic priorities of BBVA Group’s Responsible Business Plan and is constructed through the Global Financial Literacy Plan. Our goal in this area is to promote the development of the financial skills that allow society to make informed decisions to improve its financial well-being and be more aware of the existing risks and opportunities.

 

 

BBVA TEAM

In 2015, BBVA changed the name of its Human Resources Department to Talent & Culture. The change was not merely titular. It marked a significant shift in the department´s core function, responsibilities and focus.

Talent & Culture will embark on a series of programs and initiatives that will build on the successes we initiated in 2015:

  • Compensation: Review our compensation model to ensure it is based on simplicity, transparency, equity and accountability. The model should unite all employees globally in a common vision and keep us aligned in delivering on both our strategic and financial goals.
  • Career Development: A new approach to career pathing that puts the employee in the driver’s seat and offers experiential (as well as traditional) ways for employees to develop new skills/capabilities and explore new opportunities for professional growth.
  • Communication: A more interactive and engaging employee communications plan that fosters dialogue rather than passive listening.

 

 Talent & Culture by the numbers:

  • Global workforce of aprox. 115,675 people located in more than 25 countries.

BBVA Group Policies

Documents issued by BBVA Group

BBVA (Spain) Wolfsberg questionnaire

BBVA (Spain) Wolfsberg questionnaire including all branches

USA Patriot Act Certification

Consolidated financial statements, management report and audit report for 2022

If you request additional information not included in our web, please contact with your manager or with our costumer service unit (duediligencecib@bbva.com).