Banco BBVA Argentina S.A.
Q3 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

Published: 23 Nov 2022

[Operator:]

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for waiting. At this time, we would like to welcome everyone to BBVA Argentina's Third Quarter 2022 Results Conference Call. We would like to inform you that this event is being recorded and all participants will be in a listen-only mode during the Company presentation. After the Company’s remarks are completed, there will be a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] First of all, let me point out that some of the statements made during this conference call may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor provisions found in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 under U.S. federal securities law. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these factors is contained in BBVA Argentina’s annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year 2021 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Today with us, we have Mrs. Carmen Morillo Arroyo, CFO; Mrs. Ines Lanusse, IRO; and Mrs. Belen Fourcade, Investor Relations. Ms. Fourcade, you may begin your conference.

[Belen Fourcade:]

Good morning, and welcome to BBVA Argentina's third quarter 2022 earnings conference call. Today's webinar will be supported by a slide presentation available on our Investor Relations website on the Financial Information section. Speaking during today's call will be Ines Lanusse, our Investor Relations Officer; and Carmen Morillo Arroyo, our new Chief Financial Officer, who will be available for the Q&A session. Please note that starting January 1, 2020, as per Central Bank regulation, we have begun reporting results applying hyperinflation accounting pursuant to IFRS rule IAS-29. For ease of comparability, 2021 and 2022 figures have been restated to reflect the accumulated effect of the inflation adjustment for each period through September 30, 2022. Now let me turn the call over to Ines.

[Ines Lanusse:]

Thank you, Belen, and thank you all of you for joining us today. As we are all aware, the combination of an unstable global context and the difficulties of our country to correct current macroeconomic distortions and to meet the established objectives in the loan agreement with the IMF, local market volatility [indiscernible] especially in the FX markets and local currency debt markets, a high uncertainty persists about the future development of our economic policy. Being this said, Argentina has been able to continue with its economic recovery, although within a context of present great challenges with a sustained high inflation and a capped foreign exchange rate. BBVA Argentina has a corporate responsibility with society, characteristic of the Bank's business model, which encourages inclusion, financial education and supports scientific research and culture. The Bank works with the highest integrity, long-term vision and best practices and is present through the BBVA Group in the main sustainability indexes. Moving into business dynamics, as you can see on Slide 3 of the webcast presentation, our service offering has evolved in such a way that by the end of September 2022, retail digital clients' penetration reached 62%, slightly increasing from a year back, while that of retail mobile clients reached 55% from 52% as of the same period of last year. The response on the side of the customers has been satisfactory and we are convinced this is the best to pursue in the aim of sustaining and expanding our competitive position in the financial system. Retail digital sales have increased from 79.6% in the third quarter of 2021 to 83.4% of units and represents 55.7% of the Bank's total sales measured in monetary values versus 52.8% in the third quarter of 2021. New customer acquisitions through digital channels reached 66% in the third quarter of 2022 from 67% in the third quarter of 2021. The Bank actively monitors its business, financial conditions and operating results in the aim of keeping a competitive position to face contextual challenges. Moving to Slide 4. I will now comment on the Bank's third quarter 2022 financial results. BBVA Argentina third quarter 2022 net income was ARS9.7 billion, decreasing 50% quarter-over-quarter. This implies a quarterly ROE of 13.5% and a quarterly ROA of 2.4%. Operating income in the third quarter of 2022 was ARS48.4 billion, 24% above the ARS39 billion recorded in the second quarter of 2022. Quarterly operating results are mainly explained by

[Operator:]

We will now begin the question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions]

[:]

[:]

[Operator:]

I'm showing no questions. This concludes the question-and-answer session. At this time, I would like to turn the floor back to Mrs. Lanusse for any closing remarks.

[Ines Lanusse:]

Okay. Thank you for your time. And please let us know if you have further questions. Bye. Have a good day.

[Operator:]

Thank you. This concludes today's presentation. You may disconnect your line at this time, and have a nice day.