Net profit rose in the first quarter compared to the same period of the previous year for Spanish financial services company Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, or BBVA Group (BBVA), the company reported on Monday, mainly due to higher interest income. Net interest income for the period grew 15.4% year-on-year, and net fees and commissions increased by 31.1%. For the three-month period, the lender posted a net income of €2.2 billion or €0.36 per share, higher than €1.846 billion or €0.29 per share, recorded for the same period last year. Excluding items, income per share was at 0.37€ per share…