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BBVA Compass, Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash restore family's home in East End

BBVA | June 22, 2015

- Bank joins pro soccer teams to build a brighter future - BBVA Compass, Dynamo Charities kick off Building a Better Houston initiative - Event marks fourth home renovation for bank through initiative

HOUSTON, June 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass volunteers and Houston Dynamo and Dash players gave a bright new beginning Monday to an East End family and their home as part of an initiative to revitalize the historic neighborhood around BBVA Compass Stadium.

BBVA Compass volunteers and Houston Dynamo and Dash players, including Dash player Jazmyne Avant, gave a bright, new beginning to an East End family and their home as part of an initiative to revitalize the historic neighborhood around BBVA Compass Stadium.

The home, owned by Richard Sosa and his wife, Sandra, was renovated as part of BBVA Compass and Dynamo Charities' Building a Better Houston initiative. It was completed in partnership with Rebuilding Together-Houston, a community outreach organization that works to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods.

"BBVA Compass is steadfast in its dedication to provide a brighter future to the underserved communities within our footprint," said BBVA Compass Houston CEO Mark Montgomery. "Our volunteers worked hard today to give new life to the Sosas' home, which figures so large in their family's history. And the East End, of course, is a significant area to both the bank and to this city, and we're proud to be part of its restoration."

After a kickoff ceremony, approximately 60 volunteers — including Montgomery, Dynamo and Dash President Chris Canetti, and former Dynamo player and Dash Managing Director Brian Ching — cleaned up landscaping and made small repairs to the Sosa family's home. They also painted the children's room in Dynamo and Dash colors, a combination of orange, black and white, with Space City blue added as an accent and border color.

"Our partnership with BBVA Compass extends far beyond the white lines of the soccer pitch," Canetti said. "This community is our home, where BBVA Compass Stadium sits, and giving back to these residents is our top priority in this collaboration."

The Sosas' home has been in the family for generations, dating back to Richard Sosa's childhood, where he grew up in the house with his mom and grandfather, who had rented the house before Sosa bought it. Richard met his wife, Sandra, who was also a resident of the Second Ward neighborhood, in 1986. The couple married 10 years later and have raised their two young daughters in the cherished home.

The home improvements, some of which were completed last week, were made through a donation from the BBVA Compass Foundation. Those repairs included the installation of a new roof, electrical work, and landscaping and termite treatment.

The Building a Better Houston initiative began in 2012. Multiple events, including financial education events and soccer clinics, are held throughout the year as part of the initiative.

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 672 branches, including 341 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 earned the top ranking with customers in American Banker's 2014 annual reputation survey of the top 25 largest U.S. retail banks. It also has been recognized as one of the leading small business lenders by the Small Business Administration, and its mobile app recently earned the Mobile Banking Leader in Functionality Award for the second consecutive year from Javelin Strategy & Research. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com, by following @BBVACompassNews on Twitter or visiting newsroom.bbvacompass.com.