Operator
Operator
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to BBVA Argentina's First Quarter 2026 Results Conference Call. Today with us are Mrs. Belen Fourcade, Investor Relations Manager; and Diego Cesarini, IRO and Head of Asset and Liability Management. This presentation and the first quarter of 2026 earnings release are available on BBVA's Investor Relations website, ir.bbva.com.ar, and will also be available for download in the chat. 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 2025 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. [Operator Instructions] I will now turn the call over to Belen Fourcade. Please go ahead. María Belén Fourcade: Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today for BBVA Argentina's First Quarter 2026 Results Conference Call. During the first quarter of the year, our business model demonstrated resilience within a macroeconomic environment characterized by a gradual transition and the normalization of key financial variables. We observed a reduction in interest rate volatility, which sustained the downward trend initiated in the previous year, alongside ongoing adjustments in monetary and regulatory policy aimed at better management of liquidity. While the combination of fiscal discipline and stabilizing external indicators establishes a more predictable framework for the financial sector, we maintain a cautious and prudent outlook regarding the pace, timing and evolution of a broader private credit recovery in the upcoming quarters. Moving into our financial highlights for the quarter, BBVA Argentina posted an inflation-adjusted net income of ARS 85.2 billion for the first quarter of 2026. This represents a 31.2% increase quarter-over-quarter, driven by revenue performance and expense management. This bottom-line expansion boosted our quarterly ROE to 8.3%. At the same time, net interest income grew by 5.9% sequentially to ARS 879.9 billion. Our funding costs fell faster than asset yields due to the shorter average life of our liabilities, expanding our total net interest margin to 18.6%. Regarding efficiency, our quarterly efficiency ratio stood at 51.4%, with personnel benefits and administrative expenses reflecting the ongoing management of our corporate structure. Let's look at the dynamics of our balance sheet and credit portfolio. Total financing to the private sector closed the quarter at ARS 15.7 trillion. While local currency loans fell 6.5% due to seasonal low commercial activity, our foreign currency private loans grew by 6.8% sequentially, which represents a 23.3% increase in dollar terms. We continue to see continuous momentum in pledged and mortgage lines. Furthermore, we continue to capture business effectively, mainly driven by the commercial segment and foreign currency loans. Our consolidated loan market share rose to 12.15%, signaling a total gain of 95 basis points over the last 12 months. On the funding side, total deposits reached ARS 17.5 trillion. Private deposits saw a minor seasonal 8 basis points market share dip to 9.93%, but they remained up 78 basis points year-over-year. Regarding asset quality, systemic pressures caused our nonperforming loan ratio to rise to 5.60%, primarily driven by the retail card and consumer portfolios. However, commercial delinquency remained exceptionally well behaved at just 0.50%. Our cost of risk dropped from 8.11% last quarter to 6.14%, partially thanks to our strengthened origination policies, leaving our coverage ratio at 88.41%. Looking at solvency and liquidity, our liquidity ratio closed at a very comfortable 45.5%. More importantly, our capital position remains robust with a regulatory capital ratio of 18.8%, representing 128.7% excess of our minimum regulatory requirements. Before opening the floor to your questions, I want to highlight that on May 15, the Central Bank approved our dividend distribution for ARS 69 billion, which underscores our unyielding commitment to generating shareholder value. In conclusion, BBVA Argentina enters the rest of 2026 with an exceptionally solid foundation, backed by robust capital, healthy liquidity and an expanding market footprint, we possess all the necessary tools to lead the market and supply credit as the Argentine financial system normalizes. Thank you for your time. Operator, please open the line for questions.