HOUSTON, Nov. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --In a move aimed at fostering deeper ties to both clients and communities, BBVA Compass today named Rafael Bustillo as the bank's Chief Operating Officer to oversee the bank's three lines of business – Retail, Wealth Management and Commercial.

Bustillo will lead the Consumer and Commercial Bank, working alongside Chief Digital Banking Officer Jeff Dennes, who leads the Digital Bank. BBVA Compass Chairman and CEO Manolo Sanchez said the new structure, which came after a careful review, will allow the bank to be more relevant and responsive to customers and the towns and cities where it operates.

"We're organizing in a way that is both comprehensive and efficient," said Chairman and CEO Manolo Sanchez. "Our leadership model will yield superior cross-line-of-business synergies, creating an opportunity for our business and our brand. But the key is that the new organization will allow us to better meet the needs of the people and places we serve."

Four Regional Executives will report to Bustillo, as will Champions for the lines of business in the bank, including Retail Banking, Wealth Management and Commercial Banking as well as Commercial Real Estate. This new leadership team will be tasked with capitalizing on opportunities and mitigating challenges across the bank's footprint.

Chief Executive Officers will be named in the major cities in the bank's footprint, in addition to a Texas border CEO, a New Mexico CEO and CEOs representing the bank's community markets in each region. These positions will help the bank tap even further into local business opportunities.

Bustillo has been with BBVA Compass since 1987, leading Commercial Banking for the past five years. Prior to that, he was Commercial Banking's Denver Market President and Western Region Executive, Gainesville Market President and Regional Executive for Northeast Florida and Southeast Alabama Community Markets, and Commercial and Private Banking Manager in Huntsville, Ala.

"Rafael has guided our Commercial line of business through a period of transformation and growth, made all the more remarkable by the prevailing economic headwinds," said Sanchez. "He's an excellent choice to help lead the bank to even greater success."

Bustillo will be based in Houston.

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, Member FDIC.

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SOURCE BBVA Compass