World's best bank in the emerging markets 2016: BBVA

Also shortlisted:

DBS

Emirates NBD

Citi

View full 2016 results

Shifting economic cycles, client demands, regulation and technology have conspired to clip the wings of global universal banks in emerging markets. The likes of HSBC, Citi and Standard Chartered have beaten a retreat from a clutch of low-margin retail markets, while regional players downplay their cross-border ambitions and focus on their competitive strengths.

Against this challenging backdrop, BBVA’s rise across emerging markets – offering new products through largely conventional channels – proves the traditional banking model, for some at least, is alive and well.

BBVA’s diversity and relative lending prudence have helped cushion the maelstrom in Spain, its home market. BBVA aims to become a top-three player in most countries where it is active. In recent years, it has redoubled its diversification strategy, focused on retail banking in growth markets, investment in digital technology, and its expansion of the retail and corporate product offering of its market-leading franchises.

Since the 1990s, BBVA has expanded in eight Latin American countries – Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Uruguay, Paraguay and Mexico – and is now the largest financial institution in the latter market by assets, loans, deposits, profitability and branches.