BBVA Compass launches its Year of Opportunity for Small Business, dedicates May to fortifying their financial fundamentals

- 72 workshops: Bank marshals its expert employees to lead more than 70 workshops in May on the financial fundamentals of running a small business

- Curriculum: Attendees will be taught how to use and obtain business credit, develop a business plan and understand financial statements

- Focused effort: Bank also punching above weight in small-business lending, competing with some of largest U.S. banks in number of loans under SBA's flagship 7(a) program

News provided by

BBVA Compass

May 22, 2017, 12:28 ET

HOUSTON, May 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass, already punching above its weight in its drive to become the lender of choice among small businesses and entrepreneurs, is launching a Year of Opportunity for Small Business by marshaling its expert employees to lead more than 70 workshops in May on the financial fundamentals of running a small business.

Entrepreneurs and small-business leaders from the Upper Rio Grande Valley gathered on May 11 at Grindstone Coworking in Edinburg, Texas, for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop on entrepreneurship and the ins and outs of writing a business plan, using business credit, and understanding financial statements.
Entrepreneurs and small-business leaders from the Upper Rio Grande Valley gathered on May 11 at Grindstone Coworking in Edinburg, Texas, for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop on entrepreneurship and the ins and outs of writing a business plan, using business credit, and understanding financial statements.
A participant follows along at a small business workshop held at BBVA Compass Plaza in Houston on May 3.
A participant follows along at a small business workshop held at BBVA Compass Plaza in Houston on May 3.
Entrepreneurs and small-business leaders from the Upper Rio Grande Valley gathered on May 11 at Grindstone Coworking in Edinburg, Texas, for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop on entrepreneurship and the ins and outs of writing a business plan, using business credit, and understanding financial statements.
Entrepreneurs and small-business leaders from the Upper Rio Grande Valley gathered on May 11 at Grindstone Coworking in Edinburg, Texas, for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop on entrepreneurship and the ins and outs of writing a business plan, using business credit, and understanding financial statements.
Entrepreneurs and small-business leaders from the Upper Rio Grande Valley gathered on May 11 at Grindstone Coworking in Edinburg, Texas, for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop on entrepreneurship and the ins and outs of writing a business plan, using business credit, and understanding financial statements.
Entrepreneurs and small-business leaders from the Upper Rio Grande Valley gathered on May 11 at Grindstone Coworking in Edinburg, Texas, for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop on entrepreneurship and the ins and outs of writing a business plan, using business credit, and understanding financial statements.
Small-business leaders gathered on May 17 at the Contra Costa Small Business Development Center in Pleasant Hill, Calif., for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop.
Small-business leaders gathered on May 17 at the Contra Costa Small Business Development Center in Pleasant Hill, Calif., for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop.
Entrepreneurs and small-business leaders from the Upper Rio Grande Valley gathered on May 11 at Grindstone Coworking in Edinburg, Texas, for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop on entrepreneurship and the ins and outs of writing a business plan, using business credit, and understanding financial statements. A participant follows along at a small business workshop held at BBVA Compass Plaza in Houston on May 3. Entrepreneurs and small-business leaders from the Upper Rio Grande Valley gathered on May 11 at Grindstone Coworking in Edinburg, Texas, for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop on entrepreneurship and the ins and outs of writing a business plan, using business credit, and understanding financial statements. Entrepreneurs and small-business leaders from the Upper Rio Grande Valley gathered on May 11 at Grindstone Coworking in Edinburg, Texas, for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop on entrepreneurship and the ins and outs of writing a business plan, using business credit, and understanding financial statements. Small-business leaders gathered on May 17 at the Contra Costa Small Business Development Center in Pleasant Hill, Calif., for a BBVA Compass-sponsored workshop.

The workshops are being held in all seven states across the Sunbelt where BBVA Compass has a physical presence — Florida, Alabama, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and California. They are part of the first of multiple campaigns the bank will initiate for its Year of Opportunity for Small Business, which kicked off during Small Business Week in early May and is designed to give small businesses the service, expertise and products they need to seize opportunities and fully realize their bright futures.

"Small businesses are the engine of growth for our economy," said Lonnie Hayes, BBVA Compass Small Business Segment Executive. "More than half of Americans either work for or own a small business, and those businesses create about two-thirds of the new jobs in this country every year. They're creating a staggering amount of opportunity, and we want them to know that whatever they need — the capital to expand, the knowledge to thrive — we're here to help provide it."

The curriculum for the workshops is available through the BBVA Compass Center for Financial Education, which offers online and in-person adult financial education courses. Developed in partnership with leading education technology firm EverFi, the small business curriculum includes five modules on topics such as how to use and obtain credit, develop a business plan and understand financial statements. It's designed to give small-business owners the financial management tools they need to successfully grow and maintain a healthy enterprise.

The bank's $6.2 billion commitment

The workshops are part of BBVA Compass' comprehensive, coordinated effort to serve small businesses. The nation's 22nd-largest bank by deposit market share, BBVA Compass is now the fifth most-active lender by total number of loans for the SBA's flagship 7(a) loan program, approving 1,801 such loans in the fiscal year that ended in September 2016. Other banks in the top five included some of the largest in the country, with Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase and U.S. Bank claiming spots.

Part of the bank's success is due in part to its commitment in late 2014 to make $6.2 billion in small business loans over the next five years. By the end of 2016, BBVA Compass had made nearly $2.4 billion in loans to small businesses.

"We're putting Main Street on firmer capital footing, and some of our most innovative work is being done in the service of small businesses," said Hayes, the bank's Small Business Segment Executive.

For instance, BBVA Compass mined data to help it identify branches that have high concentrations of small businesses within a 5-mile radius. It gave the managers of those branches advanced training so they can better meet the lending needs of microbusinesses which generate less than $1 million in annual sales.

For more information

To determine if there is a BBVA Compass Small Business workshop being held in your area, email [email protected]. And to learn more about BBVA Compass' Small Business Banking Services, go to www.bbvacompass.com/business.

About BBVA Group
BBVA is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group is the largest financial institution in Spain and Mexico and it has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States; and it is also the leading shareholder in Garanti, Turkey's biggest bank for market capitalization. Its diversified business is focused on high-growth markets and it relies on technology as a key sustainable competitive advantage. Corporate responsibility is at the core of its business model. BBVA fosters financial education and inclusion, and supports scientific research and culture. It operates with the highest integrity, a long-term vision and applies the best practices. More information about BBVA Group can be found at bbva.com.

About BBVA Compass
BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 657 branches, including 342 in Texas, 89 in Alabama, 63 in Arizona, 61 in California, 45 in Florida, 38 in Colorado and 19 in New Mexico. BBVA Compass ranks among the top 25 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (2nd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (5th). BBVA Compass has been recognized as one of the leading small business lenders by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and ranked 5th nationally in the total number of SBA loans originated in fiscal year 2016. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com. For more BBVA Compass news, follow @BBVACompassNews on Twitter or visit newsroom.bbvacompass.com.

SOURCE BBVA Compass

Related Links

http://www.bbvacompass.com

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