Enba in Internet bank agreement

Dublin-based online financial services company Enba has finalised a merger agreement with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Terra Networks to create the Internet bank UnoFirst group. The merger, valued at €1.58 billion, aims to create the first global Internet financial services provider, combining operations in the UK, Germany and Spain with plans to expand further in Europe, Latin America, the US and Asia. BBVA is the second largest euro-zone bank and is the leading operator in Latin America. Terra is one of the world's biggest Internet operators. UnoFirst was launched in November 1999 and already has a customer base of 100,000 managing some €350 million in assets. By year-end it plans to be operational in Portugal.