BBVA Compass Signs on to be an Official Partner of the Houston Rockets

HOUSTON, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass announced today that it has signed a multi-year agreement to become an official corporate partner of the Houston Rockets. BBVA Compass has 81 banking centers in the "Clutch City" and ranks as the fifth largest bank in the Houston metropolitan area based on deposit market share. With operations throughout seven states in the Sunbelt Region, BBVA Compass ranks among the top-20 largest financial institutions in the United States and the fourth largest bank in Texas.

As part of the agreement, BBVA Compass will be the presenting sponsor of www.toyotacentertix.com. The parties will also design and develop a new booth at Toyota Center called the Season Ticket Holder Home Court presented by BBVA Compass, giving fans the opportunity to sign up for the Rockets affinity card. In addition, BBVA Compass will be the presenting partner of the Financial Literacy Program, the Rockets Spanish website, as well as the Rockets Partner Forum – a series of business networking events.

"As a proud member of the local Houston community, we are very pleased to be partnering with the Houston Rockets, an organization that provides its fans with a customer-friendly experience and shares our passion for being a strong community partner," said BBVA U.S. Country Manager and President and CEO of BBVA Compass Manolo Sanchez. "The Houston community is passionate about sports so BBVA Compass wants to provide its basketball fans an opportunity to participate in what they love."

"We are very excited to enter into this partnership with BBVA Compass," said Rockets and Clutch City Sports & Entertainment CEO Tad Brown. "BBVA Compass aligns itself so well with our organization's goal of providing championship-caliber experiences to our customers. They have also shown a great commitment in improving local communities, which is paramount to our Owner Leslie Alexander and our team."

Working together in the community, the Rockets and BBVA Compass will promote social accountability with a Financial Literacy Program at select area high schools. The Rockets and BBVA Compass will team up to teach local high school students the importance of financial responsibility through a community outreach program featuring in-school events. The program will take business lessons learned in the world of sports and apply them to everyday life situations, such as financial discipline, budgeting and balancing a checkbook. One lucky student from each participating school will also have the opportunity to spend a "day-in-the-life" of a member of the Rockets organization.

BBVA Compass will also have fan-friendly promotions and sweepstakes during the Rockets season, including one that will give a small business the chance to become the "Official BBVA Small Business Partner of the Houston Rockets" for one season.

BBVA Compass is the U.S. subsidiary of BBVA, a global financial services group with operations in more than 30 countries. In October 2010, BBVA signed a multi-year marketing partnership whereby it is the Official Bank of the NBA, the Women's National Basketball Association and the NBA Development League in the United States, Spain and Puerto Rico.

About BBVA Group

BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates more than 716 branches, including 380 in Texas, 93 in Alabama, 65 in California, 77 in Arizona, 45 in Florida, 36 in Colorado and 20 in New Mexico. BBVA Compass ranks among the top-20 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (3rd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (5th). BBVA Compass has been recognized as one of the nation's leading Small Business Administration (SBA) lenders, earning "Lender of the Year" honors in 2009 and 2010. Additional information concerning BBVA Compass can be found on our website www.bbvacompass.com.

BBVA Compass is a subsidiary of Compass Bancshares, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) (MAD: BBVA). BBVA is a financial services group with approximately $770 billion in total assets, 48 million clients, 7,400 branches and approximately 109,000 employees in more than 30 countries. BBVA ranks among the top-20 largest financial institutions in the world based on market capitalization and 21st in Global Finance magazine's list of the "World's 50 Safest Banks" for 2010. BBVA provides its customers around the world with a full range of financial services, including commercial and wholesale banking, retail banking services, consumer loans, mortgages, credit cards, securities brokerage, wealth management, pension plan management and insurance. The BBVA Group maintains a leadership position in Spain, Mexico, Latin America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States, as well as operations in China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. More information about the BBVA Group can be found at www.bbva.com.

About the Rockets

Established before the 1967-68 NBA season, the Rockets began calling Houston home prior to the 1971-72 season. The 2011-12 campaign will mark the 45th season of Rockets basketball. Under the ownership of Leslie Alexander, the Rockets brought Houston its first two major professional sports titles by winning back-to-back NBA Finals in 1993-94 and 1994-95. Off the court, the Rockets franchise has set the standard for community involvement. More information about the Rockets can be found at www.rockets.com.

Editor's Note:

BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank. Compass Bank, member FDIC.

SOURCE BBVA Compass