BBVA and OpenAI collaborate to transform global banking

BBVA is expanding a collaboration with OpenAI through a multi-year program that will deploy ChatGPT Enterprise to all 120,000 of its global employees.

The move represents a tenfold increase from BBVA's current deployment of the AI technology and will see OpenAI help advance the bank's AI strategy to transform the customer experience, enable new ways of working and optimize internal operations, the company said in a statement.

BBVA began working with OpenAI in May 2024, initially rolling out 3,300 ChatGPT accounts and later expanding to 11,000, according to the Spanish banking firm.

The bank reported employees saved nearly three hours per week on routine tasks.

The expanded rollout will cover operations in 25 countries and includes security and privacy controls, access to OpenAI's latest models, and tools for creating internal agents connected to BBVA systems, the company said.

BBVA has already deployed a virtual assistant called Blue, built on OpenAI models, to help customers manage cards, accounts and everyday questions using natural language.

“We were pioneers in the digital and mobile transformation, and we are now entering the AI era with even greater ambition," BBVA chair Carlos Torres Vila said.

"Our alliance with OpenAI accelerates the native integration of artificial intelligence across the bank to create a smarter, more proactive, and completely personalized banking experience, anticipating the needs of every client.”

Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, meanwhile, added: "BBVA is a strong example of how a large financial institution can adopt AI with real ambition and speed. With this expansion of our work together, BBVA will embed our AI into the core of their products and operations to enhance the overall banking experience for their customers.”

Together, they will establish a dedicated BBVA team to work with OpenAI's product, research and technology success teams and will collaborate on specialized training programs and a structured adoption model to integrate these tools consistently and securely across all areas and functions, the company added.

The Recap

• BBVA will roll out ChatGPT Enterprise to 120,000 employees.
• Deployment expands roughly tenfold from BBVA's prior rollout.
• Program includes specialized training and structured adoption across functions.