BBVA in 2012

18.6%. The biggest increases have been posted in the retail segment (up 38.6%), thanks to the positivetrend in lending to small businesses (up 105.8%) and consumer loans and credit cards (up 29.5%).As regards risk indicators in the area, the NPA ratio has improved to 2.1% as of December 2012(from 2.2% on the same date of the previous year), thanks to the rigorous risk admission andrecovery policies applied in the region, in line with corporate guidelines. The coverage ratioremains at the same levels as the previous year, at 146%.41 South America. NPA and coverage ratios(Percentage)146141139 142146CoverageratioNPA ratio2.22.32.3 2.22.1December2011March June September December2012On-balance-sheet customer deposits (excluding repos) have grown 24.1% year-on-year to€56,937m. This has resulted in a market share gain of 15 basis points over the last 12 months(according to the latest information available as of November 2012). Lower-cost transactional items(current and savings accounts) rose 30.6% and have seen their market share increase by 53 basispoints from the end of November 2011 to the close of November 2012. Customer funds managedby the banks in South America, including the assets under management in mutual funds andrepos, stood at €60,566m, up 23.0% on the figure as of 31-Dec-2011.42 South America. Key activity data(Million euros at constant exchange rates)Customer lending (gross)Customer funds60,5667000032,47341,08248,721+18.6% (1)39,68849,236+23.0% (2)600005000040000300002000010000December2010December2011(1) At current exchange rates: +21.1%.(2) At current exchange rates: +24.9%.December2012December2010December2011December20120EarningsSouth America closed the year with a significant increase in earnings of 23.6%, reaching a netattributable profit of €1,347m.174 Business areas