BBVA Channels €120 Billion in Sustainable Business, Up 27%

Spanish banking group BBVA channelled €120 billion into sustainable business during the first nine months of 2026, representing a 27% increase compared with the same period in 2025. Published on 30 October 2026, the results bring the bank's cumulative sustainable business volume since January 2025 to €254 billion, exceeding 36% of its €700 billion target for 2025–2029. Spain accounted for approximately €38 billion of the latest nine-month total, making it BBVA's largest market for sustainable business activity.

Of the €254 billion mobilised since 2025, approximately €195 billion, or 77%, was directed towards environmental activities covering climate change and natural capital, while €59 billion supported social initiatives. During the first nine months of 2026, financing and transactional banking accounted for 86% of sustainable business activity, followed by capital markets at 10% and project finance at 4%. Geographically, Spain represented 32% of the total, followed by Mexico at 16%, Türkiye at 13% and South America at 10%, with other markets contributing the remaining 29%.

 

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All three major business segments recorded growth. Corporate and Investment Banking channelled approximately €60 billion into sustainable activities, up 16% year-on-year, including financing for renewable energy, clean technologies, sustainable agriculture and natural capital projects. Commercial Banking rose 40% to approximately €45 billion, supported by demand for sustainability advisory services and financing for agriculture, infrastructure and circular economy initiatives. Retail banking contributed approximately €14 billion, up 38%, including financing for energy-efficient housing, electric vehicles and other environmental and social activities.

The performance supports BBVA's broader sustainability strategy, which focuses on climate action, natural capital and social development. In 2025, the bank increased its sustainable business target to €700 billion for the five-year period ending in 2029, more than doubling its previous €300 billion objective for 2018–2025. BBVA reached that earlier target in December 2024, one year ahead of schedule. Its new target covers a shorter period and includes a wider range of sustainable financing and transition-related activities.

BBVA is also participating in COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, as Global Banking Partner, supporting discussions on climate finance and the energy transition. Its latest results indicate continued growth in demand for sustainability-related financial products across corporate, commercial and retail banking. However, the reported figures cover financing and other eligible business solutions under BBVA's methodology and should not be interpreted solely as new lending or independently verified environmental outcomes.

 

Source: BBVA