MCALLEN, Texas, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass enlisted NBA Legend Bob Lanier and WNBA Legend Allison Feaster to tip off a WNBA Cares event last week to inspire and teach financial literacy to local students at McAllen ISD's Victor Fields Elementary School.

Lanier, a Hall of Fame center, and Feaster, who spent 10 seasons in the WNBA, joined BBVA Compass volunteers on April 6 in visits to classrooms and computer labs at Fields. They talked to students about the importance of financial literacy and how it can create opportunities for a bright future. BBVA Compass later donated 33 iPads and an iPad charging cart to the school as a way to advance the students' learning experiences.  

"Victor Fields Elementary has been around for a long time, giving children the tools they need to excel, and this is our way of giving back to a school that has done so much for McAllen," said BBVA Compass Upper Rio Grande Valley Market President Jason Leal.

The event is part of the bank's annual effort to bring the Vault financial education program, developed by education technology firm EverFi, into schools across the BBVA Compass footprint at no cost to the schools or school districts. The course features interactive lessons, games and story-based activities that challenge children from an early age to make choices in real-life scenarios to best achieve important goals around saving and job planning.

"Our mission at Fields is to create lifelong learners who can go out into the world and succeed," said Fields Principal Rosey Guerra. "We're grateful for everyone who came out today – from BBVA Compass, EverFi and the WNBA and NBA – in the service of that mission."   

BBVA Compass and the NBA have engaged more than 20,000 students in 27 schools across various markets since 2011, providing physical improvements to schools and presenting financial literacy programs.

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 BBVA Group is the largest financial institution in Spain and Mexico, has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt region of the United States and is also the leading shareholder in Garanti, Turkey's largest bank based on market capitalization. Its diversified business is focused on high-growth markets and it 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 bbva.com.

About BBVA Compass

BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 672 branches, including 344 in Texas, 89 in Alabama, 75 in Arizona, 62 in California, 45 in Florida, 38 in Colorado and 19 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 was recently named Best Digital Bank in North America by global finance magazine Euromoney and the best regional bank in the South & West and best mobile app in Money magazine's 2015-2016 list of the Best Banks in America. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at bbvacompass.com, by following @BBVACompassNews on Twitter or visiting newsroom.bbvacompass.com. 

Any statement or opinion of a BBVA Compass economist is that economist's own statement or opinion and does not represent a statement or prediction by BBVA Compass, its parent companies or management.

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

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SOURCE BBVA Compass