BBVA Compass execs, state leaders honor UT-Austin students from Mexico, Spain

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass executives joined elected officials and university leaders Tuesday at the Texas State Capitol to honor students from Mexico and Spain who are attending the University of Texas at Austin.

The 13^th annual event, sponsored by BBVA Compass, celebrates the bank's unified commitment with UT-Austin and elected officials to strengthen ties with Mexico and Spain. BBVA Compass already has strong links to both countries through its parent company, BBVA, which operates the second-largest financial institution in Spain and the largest in Mexico.

"This event has always been special to us since it speaks to our top corporate citizenship initiative — education — and our ability to bring together different cultures to work toward common goals," said BBVA Compass Director of Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Reymundo Ocanas. "These young people left home in pursuit of knowledge, and that's a courageous act deserving of celebration."

Alba Vicente, a graduate student from Spain studying finance, received a proclamation honoring her choice to attend school at the University of Texas during the event.

Currently, there are 68 students from Spain and 500 students from Mexico enrolled at the University of Texas. Some of them were able to study there thanks to a tuition assistance program established by the Texas Legislature in 1991 that seeks to encourage students from Mexico with limited financial resources to study in Texas.

"As a proud alumna of The University of Texas at Austin and the first Hispanic woman in the Texas Senate, I am delighted to welcome these students from Mexico and Spain to the Texas Capitol," Senator Zaffirini said. "I also am grateful to BBVA Compass for sponsoring this event for the 13th consecutive year and to UT-Austin President Bill Powers and UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa for hosting it."

The event was led by Sen. Judith Zaffirini of Laredo, who organized the first such reception in 2002, and was hosted by Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa, University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers, and BBVA Compass Austin Wealth Management Market Executive John Jett.

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. 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. The Group is present in the main sustainability indexes. 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 685 branches, including 350 in Texas, 90 in Alabama, 78 in Arizona, 64 in California, 45 in Florida, 38 in Colorado and 20 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 and was recently awarded the 2013 Celent Model Bank Award for its new core banking platform. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com.

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

SOURCE BBVA Compass

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