Javier Rodríguez Soler is Head of Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) and Sustainability at BBVA, winner of the Best Corporate Bank award. It discusses the bank’s growth, AI integration and decarbonisation.
Global Finance: BBVA achieved strong returns in 2024. How did the group achieve this, and can it be replicated?
Javier Rodriguez Soler: 2024 was an exceptional year for BBVA, driven by strong commercial activity and disciplined execution. We generated profits of €10.1 billion, up 25% on the previous year, with a return on equity of 19.7%. At the Commercial International Bank, the results were equally strong; Revenues rose by 27% to €5.8 billion and attributable profits rose by 30% to €2.8 billion. This underscores the strength of our industry-based coverage model, which allows us to build deeper relationships with corporate and institutional clients across different geographies.
Is this level of performance sustainable? I think it is. The first half of 2025 is already showing resilience, with nearly €3.2 billion in revenue and double-digit growth per unit. The combination of digitalisation, global reach and disciplined execution gives us confidence that this performance is not just a one-off but the result of a long-term sustainable strategy.
GF: Where do you see growth in the next year for your product offerings and the geographies in which they are offered?
Rodriguez Soler: Our 2025-2029 plan is designed to scale what has already worked: an industry-focused model with global reach. Growth will come from both products and geographies.
Cross-border activity is very important for us, given our strong presence in Latin America and Europe, especially in markets such as Mexico, Spain and Turkey. As our customers expand internationally, we want to be there and support them on that journey.
We are also strengthening our presence in key markets such as Brazil, the US, the Middle East and Asia, leveraging client flows and strengthening coverage teams. Through disciplined risk management and targeted investment in talent and AI, we can deliver more personalized and forward-looking solutions that help clients grow sustainably.
GF: How is BBVA dealing with increased competition in corporate lending from fintechs and private credit providers?
Rodriguez Soler: We do not view fintechs and private credit providers as competitors, but rather as catalysts for rethinking corporate lending. Instead of competing head-to-head, we look for synergies. We bring customer access, structuring expertise, and global capabilities; They bring agility and specialization.
For example, our alliance with KKR, signed in 2024, supports the decarbonization of the economy by creating cutting-edge financing structures. Through our trade finance agreement with Olea, we are better positioned to serve clients in international supply chains, especially in Asia. These partnerships show that collaboration is the way to deliver greater value to customers.
GF: What are the latest corporate banking milestones BBVA has reached in its digital transformation journey?
Rodriguez Soler: We are now moving beyond digital transformation into the era of artificial intelligence. While digitization has been about processes, AI – especially generative AI – goes further and has the potential to help bankers work smarter: be more productive, answer faster, and personalize solutions.
Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are already part of our bankers’ daily workflow. Accordingly, we are now developing what we call “AI Banker”: intelligent platforms – some of which already exist – that go beyond digital operations to proactively support customer interaction, decision-making, and value creation. This is a huge leap forward in how we serve customers and differentiate ourselves.
GF: Do you expect 2026 to be radically different from 2025 in terms of corporate banking?
Rodriguez Soler: I expect corporate banking to evolve rapidly, not only in what we do but in how we do it. Technology, data, and artificial intelligence are rapidly reshaping customer expectations.
Clients are now looking for partners who can guide them through the complexities, not just provide financing. Our industry-driven coverage model, combined with our global footprint, gives us the visibility and scale needed to execute. Advisory, structured finance and transaction banking will continue to be growth areas as companies adapt to new regulatory, technology and sustainability requirements.
