BBVA Earns € 1.73 Billion in the First Quarter

Results: in yet another quarter results remained resilient and recurrent, with gross income rising 3.9% year-over-year to €5.47 billion
Risks: the BBVA Group’s non-performing asset ratio stood at 5.3% and the coverage ratio was 71%. Asset quality was either stable or it improved in all regions except Spain, in line with expectations
Liquidity: BBVA managed liquidity actively during the quarter. It placed €4.5 billion in debt issues and reduced the liquidity gap by more than €9 billion on the euro balance sheet
Capital adequacy: the core capital ratio increased 42 basis points to 11.2% (BIS II criteria)

BBVA’s net attributable profit in the first three months of 2013 came to €1.73 billion. This amount is greater than the profit obtained during the whole of last year and it is 72.6% higher than the figure for the first quarter of 2012. The income statement reflects the resilience and strength of earnings despite extraordinarily complex conditions following five years of economic and financial crisis. Capital gains on the sale of non-strategic assets in Spain and Mexico also contributed to the results.

BBVA President & chief operating officer Ángel Cano said, “The quarter’s results demonstrate the structural strength of BBVA given our business model and right geographic diversification. During the last four years BBVA has generated about €5 billion in gross income each quarter"

Net interest income rose 0.8% year-over-year to €3.62 billion despite an environment of lower interest rates.

Gross income remained high at €5.47 billion, an increase of 3.9% over the same quarter last year. Emerging markets, acting as the engines of growth, generated 58% of income, compared to 42% from developed markets.

Once again the BBVA Group kept costs at bay in developed countries. In emerging regions costs increased in line with growth plans for countries such as Mexico, where the bank will invest some €2.7 billion over the next four years. As a result, consolidated operating income came to €2.71 billion, which was very similar to the same period last year.

The Group’s non-performing asset ratio rose to 5.3% in March from 5.1% in December. The coverage ratio is 11 percentage points higher at 71%. The deterioration, which was expected, is mainly due to an increase of the NPA ratio of Spanish companies.

The Group’s solvency continues to strengthen. The core capital ratio increased 42 basis points to 11.2% according to BIS II criteria. This improvement is partly explained by the sale of the pension management business in Mexico in January and by the capital generated organically by the bank’s activities.

Once again BBVA took advantage of the new year to optimize its funding and liquidity structure. It placed €4.5 billion in debt issues in various markets and reduced the liquidity gap by over €9 billion on the euro balance sheet.

As for the Group’s activities, deposits rose in all regions, essentially in the retail segment. The total volume of deposits increased 9.4% to €304.6 billion. Gross lending to BBVA customers rose 4% year-over-year to €372.6 billion and total customer funds were up 9.8% to €408.1 billion. These figures exclude the funds of pension management firms in Mexico, Colombia and Chile.

In summary BBVA obtained net attributable profit of €1.73 billion in the first three months of 2013, an increase of 72.6% compared to the same period of 2012. The key factors were the resilience of revenues and the advantage taken of opportunities to divest non-strategic assets such as the life insurance portfolio in Spain and the pension business in Mexico.

Starting in 2013 the breakdown of information for Spain has been divided into banking activity and real estate business.

Banking activity in Spain (the Spain Area) continued to develop in an environment with margins under pressure. Lending was up 3.6% and customer funds increased 2.7%. The area gained 184 basis points of market share in loans. Excluding the real estate sector the NPA ratio was 4.3% with a coverage ratio of 50%. Spain’s net attributable profit was €569 million, up 53.9% year-over-year.

The BBVA Group’s net exposure to real estate (as reported according to Bank of Spain rules) continued to fall, reaching €15.40 billion in foreclosed properties and loans to developers. In fact, since December 2011 BBVA’s real estate exposure has fallen 14.5%. The rate of sales of properties by the Real Estate Area has accelerated (over 3,000 units sold during the quarter). The net attributable profit on this area’s income statement was -€346 million.

Eurasia reflected buoyant retail business and deleveraging of wholesale businesses. Turkey continued to be the area’s engine of growth. Gross income was €511 million (down 4.5% year-over-year) and net attributable profit came to €179 million (down 40.2%). Lower contributions from Chinese bank CNCB, caused by new regulatory requirements, explain the decline.

Mexico reported good business growth: lending rose 7.1% and customer funds were up 6.2%. All margins grew between 5% and 6%. Risk indicators remained stable: the non-performing asset ratio fell to 3.7% and the coverage ratio rose to 117%. Mexico’s net attributable profit came to €435 million, down 0.7% compared to the first quarter of 2012 (at constant exchange rates)

Business in South America continued to boom with lending up 15.3% and customer funds jumped 23.9%. Other margins also grew fast, at more than 14%. Asset quality once again performed in exemplary fashion with the non-performing asset ratio at 2.2% and a coverage ratio of 143%. Net attributable profit came to €348 million, down 1.3% compared to the same period last year (at constant exchange rates).

United States increased business in a context of low interest rates. Lending at BBVA Compass increased by 8.4% and customer funds grew 10.6%. The area improved its risk indicators. The NPA ratio fell to 1.8% with a coverage ratio of 109%, 34 percentage points higher year-over-year. Net attributable profit for the area was €95 million, down 12.3% compared to last year at constant exchange rates.


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About BBVA

BBVA is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a solid position in Spain, it is the largest financial institution in Mexico and it has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States. Its diversified business is biased to high-growth markets and it relies on technology as a key sustainable competitive advantage. Corporate responsibility is at the core of its business model. BBVA fosters financial education and inclusion, and supports scientific research and culture. It operates with the highest integrity, a long-term vision and applies the best practices. The Group is present in the main sustainability indexes.