BBVA Compass and NBA Cares prepare students for healthy lifestyles and financial decision-making

DALLAS, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --  Peeler Elementary School students learned that reading, fitness and saving money are key to their success during visit from BBVA Compass and the NBA Development League on March 6. NBA legends and 20 bank volunteers read to students and taught the benefits of financial education and active lifestyles as part of Team. Works. In Schools, a joint initiative by BBVA Compass and NBA Cares.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130307/DA72295)

BBVA Compass' Dallas City President Key Coker and NBA legend Felipe Lopez tipped off the program. The two were accompanied by NBA legend and Dallas Mavericks Director of Basketball Development Rolando Blackman and NBA legends Bob Lanier and Sam Perkins.

"Our ultimate goal is to develop a generation of consumers who make better decisions about their health and finances," said Coker. "We were excited to come together with the NBA and its affiliated leagues to promote a common goal – to improve the communities where we are based."

NBA participants and BBVA Compass volunteers began the day by reading to kindergarten through second grade students and providing a book to each for their personal libraries.

Students then received financial education via the BBVA Compass Financial Scholars and Teach Children to Save Programs. Each program offered age-specific instruction to students, helping them to cultivate good financial habits.

Younger children learned about saving through storytelling while older students participated in the Financial Knowledge Bowl, a question-and-answer trivia session. BBVA Compass and EverFi volunteers also administered EverFi's web-based VAULT™ program to fifth graders. The interactive curriculum uses gaming and simulations to help students begin building a foundation for sound financial decision-making.

Students rounded out the day participating in fitness and basketball activities at the NBA D-League FIT clinic, a wellness program designed to promote healthy, active living.

In addition, BBVA Compass and the NBA donated 30 tablet computers, mobile computer carts and a laptop to Peeler Elementary. The Texas Legends also presented the school's students, families and staff with 1,000 tickets to an upcoming game during which the children will participate in special in-arena experiences.

"Our students look up to athletes and community professionals as examples of what they can achieve," said Helen Lopez, Peeler Elementary principal. "When they are positive role models such as those who participated today, we are especially grateful. Having the NBA and BBVA Compass on campus to reinforce what's learned in the classroom – that education and healthy living contribute to successful futures – means a lot. It's something our students will remember throughout the school year."

This marks the 17th event and third consecutive year that BBVA Compass and NBA Cares have teamed up for the Team. Works. In Schools initiative.

About BBVA Group
BBVA Compass is a subsidiary of BBVA Compass Bancshares Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) (MAD: BBVA). BBVA is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a solid position in Spain, is the largest financial institution in Mexico, and has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt region of the United States. Its diversified business is geared toward high-growth markets and relies on technology as a key sustainable competitive advantage. BBVA ranks among the leading eurozone banks in terms of return on equity and efficiency. 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 best practices. More information about the BBVA Group can be found at www.bbva.com.

About BBVA Compass
BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 708 branches, including 367 in Texas, 93 in Alabama, 79 in Arizona, 65 in California, 45 in Florida, 38 in Colorado and 21 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 (2nd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (5th). BBVA Compass has been recognized as one of the leading Small Business Administration lenders and ranked third in American Banker's 2012 reputation study of the leading 30 banks in the U.S. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com.

Editor's Note:
BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank.

About EverFi
EverFi, Inc. is the leading education technology company focused on teaching, assessing, and certifying K-12 and college students in the critical skills they need for life. The company teams with major corporations and foundations to provide the programs at no cost to K-12 schools. Some of America's leading CEOs and venture capital firms are EverFi investors including Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, Twitter founder Evan Williams, Rethink Education, New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA), and Tomorrow Ventures (the investment arm of Google Chairman Eric Schmidt). Learn more at www.everfi.com

About VAULT
VAULT™ - Understanding Money is an interactive, new-media learning platform specifically designed to introduce financial literacy skills early in a child's cognitive development. Course topics include saving, budgeting, responsibility and decision-making, credit and debt, careers, income, charity, and more. The course features interactive lessons, games, and story-based activities that challenge kids to make choices in real-life scenarios to best achieve important goals around saving and job planning. The 2.5-hour curriculum aligns with both state and national standards. 

SOURCE BBVA Compass

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