BBVA is strengthening its commitment to growth in Germany with the appointment of Jurgen von der Lehr as Head of its Digital Bank in the country, a key role in adapting the bank's value proposition in one of Europe's largest and most competitive financial markets. BBVA launches a 100% digital bank in Germany, offering an interest-bearing checking account with no fees. With extensive experience in banking, strategy, digital transformation, and business development, Jurgen von der Lehr joins as Head of BBVA's Digital Bank in Germany, reporting directly to Murat Kalkan, Global Head of Digital Banks.
His appointment marks a further step in BBVA's expansion strategy in Europe, aimed at accelerating profitable growth in large-scale markets through a fully digital model. Until now, the business has been successfully led by Luis Fiestas de Fuentes, who played a key role in establishing BBVA in the German market and laying the foundations for its next phase of growth. He will continue within BBVA's Digital Bank in Germany as Head of Daily Banking Lending, reporting to Jurgen von der Lehr.
Most recently, von der Lehr served as Head of Strategy, Business Development, and Sustainability at ING Germany, where he also held the position of General Manager. During this time, he led the execution of corporate strategy, transformation programs, innovation initiatives, fintech partnerships, and end-to-end digitalization projects. His experience combines strategic vision, customer insight, and strong execution capabilities in complex, fast-changing environments.
Previously, von der Lehr led Daily Banking at ING, served as CEO of the Austrian business, and held the role of CTO in Luxembourg. Before ING, he spent a significant part of his career at Deutsche Bank, where he held senior roles in digital innovation and the investment and savings business. He was also a partner at Oliver Wyman and worked at firms such as A.T. Kearney, focusing on retail banking, private banking, technology, and growth in new markets.
BBVA nombra a Jurgen von der Lehr responsable de su banco digital en Alemania Jurgen von der Lehr, new Head of BBVA's Digital Bank in Germany. His international profile, combined with his experience in payments, accounts, digital products, operational transformation, and the development of new value propositions, makes him a key executive in consolidating BBVA's development in Germany, a priority market in the bank's European strategy. With this appointment, BBVA reinforces its ambition to continue building a digital bank in Germany based on a simple experience, competitive pricing, human customer service, and a universal banking offering.
The addition of Jurgen von der Lehr will help accelerate the adaptation of this proposition to the specific context of the German market and advance it into a new phase of growth.
