With respect to the balances of CIB activity, there are two clearly differentiated scenarios.

At global level, gross customer lending as of 30-Sep-2012 was €54,432m, 4.9% down on the figure for the same date in 2011. This is mainly due to the deleveraging process underway in the European and U.S. economies. As part of this process, CIB has reduced its lending exposure in Spain, Eurasia and the United States, while in Mexico and South America it has risen by 3.2% and 5.5% respectively in year-on-year terms.

Customer funds (both on and off-balance sheet) closed September at €38,883m, a fall of 26.3% on the figure for 30-Sep-2011, explained by the rating downgrades of the Spanish sovereign and BBVA. As in the case of lending exposure, performance in Latin America has been positive. Customer funds have continued to grow at a good pace (7.2% in Mexico and 6.4% in South America, both in year-on-year terms). It is worth pointing out that while the level of customer funds fell from May to August, in September there was an upturn, with an increase of 13.7% on the balance at the end of August.