BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass and NBA Cares celebrated surpassing their goal of bringing financial education to 25,000 students in 2014 at their final event of the year Wednesday.

This year's BBVA Compass and NBA Cares initiative tipped off in February in Houston. Since then, more than 25,000 students in 400 schools across 19 markets have received EverFi's web-based financial education training through the BBVA Compass Future Builders program. The courses are provided to elementary and high schools at no cost to the schools or school districts.

"Our partnership with NBA Cares has been a major part of ensuring we reach as many children as possible with financial education, which will help them now and throughout their lives," said BBVA Compass Birmingham City President Alan Register. "It is part of our mission to build a better future for people, and that starts with our kids and making sure they are prepared."

The final event was hosted at G.W. Carver High School by WNBA Cares, which is part of NBA Cares, the league's global community outreach initiative. More than 400 students participated in EverFi's web-based financial education program and Get Smart About Credit courses, which were administered by BBVA Compass volunteers and NBA and WNBA legends. More than 300 students also attended a panel on leadership led by BBVA Compass Executive Director of Human Resources Dwight Julbert, NBA Cares Ambassador Bob Lanier, Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon, and Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Head of Education Ahmad Ward.

Following the event, BBVA Compass donated several new tablets to the school to help with future related and other educational initiatives.

The EverFi courses bring complex financial concepts — such as lessons about insurance, credit cards, taxes, and 401(k) plans — to life for today's digital generation through video, animations, 3-D gaming, avatars and social networking.  

BBVA Compass and NBA Cares have had a partnership since 2010 and have previously held events in schools in Birmingham, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Phoenix and San Antonio, among other cities. In 2013, the initiative reached 10,000 students in seven cities.

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. 

About NBA Cares

NBA Cares is the league's global social responsibility program that builds on the NBA's mission of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world.  Through this program, the NBA, its teams and players have donated more than $242 million to charity, completed more than 3 million hours of hands-on community service, and created more than 915 places where kids and families can live, learn, or play, in 26 countries and territories on five continents.  NBA Cares works with internationally recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes, including: KaBOOM!, Special Olympics, YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, UNICEF, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Share Our Strength and GLAAD.

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

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140825/139263

SOURCE BBVA Compass