BBVA just made one of the boldest bets any traditional bank has placed on generative AI. The Spanish multinational announced a strategic alliance with OpenAI to build what it calls an “AI-native banking model,” deploying ChatGPT Enterprise across its entire global workforce of 120,000 employees.
The deal was announced on December 12, 2025, by BBVA Chair Carlos Torres Vila and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. It represents a tenfold expansion from earlier pilot programs that had been limited to 11,000 staff members.
From pilot to full deployment
The bank’s earlier trial run with 11,000 employees produced some compelling numbers. Participating staff saved an average of three hours per week on routine tasks. Even more telling, 80% of those pilot users were leveraging the technology on a daily basis.
The multi-year program is designed to integrate generative AI tools across a wide range of banking operations, including customer-facing services, internal workflows, and operational processes.
