BBVA has said it expects to reach 20,000 technology employees this year.

In recent years, the Spanish bank has been actively seeking out engineers, mathematicians, and experts across AI, cybersecurity and data management to join its workforce.

Over the past three years, BBVA has added 10,100 new data and technology professionals to its workforce.

The bank expects to boost this number with a further 1,100 new hires to reach a total workforce of 20,000 people dedicated to these roles.

It said that profiles most in demand in engineering continue to be software developers and data engineers, followed by security, infrastructure and architecture specialists.

The bank launched a job portal last year where any candidate can view vacancies, testimonies from employees in the STEM area, and the bank’s latest updates regarding data and technology.

“In recent years, we have made a conscious and strategic effort to attract the best tech talent, which has allowed us to not only strengthen our team, but also our ability to boost innovation and adapt to the needs of a constantly changing environment,” said Pedro J. Méndez, head of talent and culture at BBVA. “We are committed to continue investing in talent to overcome future challenges and continue leading the digitisation process, with the goal of offering the best products and services to our customers.”

The move comes after BBVA extended its partnership with the University of Navarra last November to launch a training programme for over 150 managers to improve productivity through the use of generative AI (genAI).

The course has been created by the Spanish bank as well as the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Institute (DATAI) at the University.

The training will focus on the use of genAI to improve productivity among executives by improving their strategic decision-making and daily operations. Employees will also be trained in data science and new emerging technologies, as well as learn about tools like ChatGPT.

The training model is part of a wider partnership agreement that both institutions signed back in 2020 to train their employees and foster research in data science through various other initiatives, including an official master's degree in Big Data Science and a course in Big Data.

In 2023, BBVA created the ONE project, through which engineers work in a more collaborative, coordinated manner, sharing best practices from the bank and the industry.

During the same year, the bank also created BBVA Technology in Europe, a company that brings together the group's three technology companies: BBVA Next Technologies, BBVA IT Spain and Datio.

Last year, it broadened the scope of its brand with the roll out of BBVA Technology in America. By the end of last year, over 3,000 new technology roles had been added.

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