HOUSTON, Jan. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass has hired veteran banker John Schiappa to serve as its market executive in Raleigh, where he'll be responsible for managing the bank's commercial team in central and eastern North Carolina.

Schiappa earned his bachelor's degree in finance at the University of Rhode Island and he served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve. He has 24 years of banking experience, most recently at PNC Bank in Raleigh as a commercial team leader.

"We're pleased to have John lead our commercial team in the financial hub of Raleigh," said Scott Cox, East region manager for BBVA Compass. "He and his team will focus on building the bank's reputation with business leaders in central and eastern North Carolina."

Also joining the Raleigh team is Ron Schappell, a senior commercial relationship manager. Schappell earned his bachelor's degree in business management and finance from East Carolina University and is a graduate of the Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking. He has more than 25 years of banking experience in North Carolina, having worked at Wachovia and PNC Bank.

The Raleigh location at 4350 Lassiter Mill Road in Suite 350 in North Hills is new and follows the bank's successful expansion of its commercial activities over the past three years. BBVA Compass has opened commercial offices across the United States in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Charlotte, N.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

The bank has also recently hired three other commercial team members to focus on assisting Raleigh-area companies. Mack Ochs, a commercial relationship associate, joined BBVA Compass in November, while Jeff Hauser, a large middle market relationship manager, and Greg Taylor, commercial relationship manager, joined the bank in 2013.

Ochs received his bachelor's degree in finance from Gannon University in 2011 and since then has worked in corporate banking for PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Raleigh. Hauser earned his bachelor's degree from Temple University and has more than 25 years of corporate and investment banking experience in North Carolina and South Carolina. Most recently, he worked as a coverage banker for SunTrust Robinson Humphrey focusing on corporate clients located in the central Carolina region. Taylor earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Cincinnati. Before joining BBVA Compass, he worked at Fifth Third Bank in Raleigh.

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, and commercial and private client offices throughout the U.S. 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.

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SOURCE BBVA Compass