BBVA to extend to Germany its digital model rolled out in Italy
Aims to end 2024 with 600,000 customers in Italy
BBVA is selling 300 branches in Spain
Says UK presence through Atom compatible with Sabadell39;s TSB
Says proxy vote rates for bid ahead of July 5 EGM are positive

MADRID, June 19 Reuters Spain39;s second largest bank BBVA is planning to extend its digital banking services to Germany as it seeks to boost customer numbers and mirror its success in Italy, the bank39;s country manager in Spain said on Wednesday.

BBVA, which recently submitted a hostile 12.28 billion euro 13.20 billion takeover offer for Sabadell, has invested heavily in digital banking services and like larger Spanish rival Santander, has been expanding in emerging economies, such as Mexico, when it struggled in the past to boost income in mature markets.

In October 2021, BBVA entered the consumer lending market in Italy by offering free online accounts to take advantage of a shift to digital banking there during the pandemic.

It had reached 500,000 customers by the beginning of June in Italy, two and a half years ahead of its plan, Peio Belausteguigoitia said at a financial event in Santander.

The bank now aims now to reach 600,000 clients by the end of 2024.

Logically we are replicating the successful model we have had in Italy in the German market … where we hope to have a digital bank by 2025, Belausteguigoitia said.

The bank is also currently in the process of selling 300 idle…