Founded in 1857, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, also known as BBVA, is a global group that offers range of financial and non-financial products and services for individual and corporate customers. It also has a franchise in South America and is one of the largest financial institutions in Mexico and the United States. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria employs more than 112,000 people in over 30 countries worldwide. It has more than 45 million customers and over 890,000 shareholders. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria is a group of subsidiaries that are jointly controlled entities and associates who are engaged in various business activities.