HOUSTON, Sept. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1,300 BBVA Compass employees signed up to volunteer in 20 markets across the bank's footprint this week, coming together for a week of service to provide financial education, small business counseling and more to low- to moderate-income children and adults.

The initiative marks the first of its kind at the bank and is designed to meet the diverse needs of the communities BBVA Compass serves.

"With more than 1,300 employees signed up to participate, the enthusiastic response to the week of service perfectly captures the BBVA Compass spirit of building a better future for people," said BBVA Compass Director of Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Reymundo Ocañas. "We're focused on efforts that build better communities and the work our volunteers do is crucial to that mission."

The bank has allotted each employee eight extra hours of paid time off to use toward community service this year. That allotment will increase to 16 hours next year.

The BBVA Compass Week of Service is Sept. 8-12 and will give employees an opportunity, among other things, to lead homebuyer education and small business workshops; teach financial education to children; and share their professional expertise with community development organizations.

The 20 markets where employees will be volunteering:

• Albuquerque, N.M.
• Austin, Texas
• Beaumont, Texas
• Birmingham, Ala.
• Brownsville, Texas
• Dallas
• Denver
• Ft. Worth, Texas
• Houston
• Huntsville, Ala.
• Jacksonville, Fla.
• Laredo, Texas
• Los Angeles/Orange County
• McAllen, Texas
• Mobile, Ala.
• Phoenix
• Riverside, Calif.
• San Antonio
• San Francisco
• Tucson, Ariz.

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