HOUSTON, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass today announced its plan to hire 10 community relations officers across its footprint as the bank extends its commitment to building up the areas where it operates.

The community relations officers will serve as the bank's local champion for lending, investments and services for community development efforts. They also will help manage certain services for low- to moderate-income individuals and neighborhoods, such as financial education and charitable contributions, and will promote access to capital and homeownership through the bank's small business lending and community mortgage programs.

"Our community relations officers help the bank ensure we are accountable to the communities we serve," said BBVA Compass Director of Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Reymundo Ocanas.

BBVA Compass already has placed six community relations officers in Alabama, Arizona, California and Texas. Four more positions are available in Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Texas. The move follows the bank's recent disclosure regarding its Community Reinvestment Act exam and its promise to announce substantial commitments in loans, investments and services to support low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.

"These new positions are part of our plan to centralize responsibility and management of our community development efforts," Ocanas said. "We're hiring dedicated individuals whose focus is on helping us lift up our communities and getting us to the goals we've set for the bank."

The six community relations officers the bank already has hired are:

• Alex Gomez-Schweiger, Alabama, based in Birmingham
• Lourdes Sierra, Arizona, based in Phoenix
• Tony Moraga, Northern California, based in San Francisco
• Tiena Johnson-Hall, Southern California, based in Riverside
• Patrice Withers-Stephens, North Texas, based in Dallas
• Yolanda Davila, Central Texas, based in Austin

Organizations interested in contacting a community relations officer should email FinEd.us@bbva.com. Potential candidates should visit www.bbvacompass.com/careers.

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 the 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 673 branches, including 342 in Texas, 89 in Alabama, 77 in Arizona, 62 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 recently earned the top ranking with customers in American Banker's 2014 annual reputation survey of the top 25 largest U.S. retail banks. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com, by following @BBVACompassNews on Twitter or visiting newsroom.bbvacompass.com. 

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

SOURCE BBVA Compass