BBVA Compass Announces Launch of Quarterly Economic Report, U.S. Regional Watch.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- BBVA Compass today announced the launch of its new quarterly economic publication, U.S. Regional Watch. The report, which is compiled by the BBVA Compass Economic Research Department, offers in-depth data and commentary on economic factors and trends impacting the U.S., and specifically BBVA Compass' Sunbelt Region, which includes Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Colorado and New Mexico. In fact, according to the newly launched report, the Sunbelt Region continues to outperform the U.S. economy as a whole, led by Texas.

"At BBVA we firmly believe that our successes, as well as those of our customers and the communities we serve, are inextricably linked," said Jose Maria Garcia Meyer, BBVA Country Manager-U.S. and Chairman of Compass Bank. "The U.S. Regional Watch is one of the ways we are taking the initiative to share information that can lead to the kind of thoughtful, intelligent decisions that will fuel achieving our mutual goals."

The current U.S. Regional Watch covers trends and offers analysis through the fourth quarter of 2008, and provides a closer look at key issues that are impacting economies across the U.S. and in the Sunbelt Region, while presenting the data in a manner that outlines specific local, regional and national implications. Also included in the publication are industry-specific economic reports for commercial real estate, energy and health care. In providing both a focused and broad scope breakdown of information, readers can find a state-by-state economic growth report that compares short-term pressures to long-term prospects, as well as an analysis of the national oil market post-Hurricane Ike.

As the economic environment continues to pose challenges, marked by uncertainties across the U.S. and abroad, a strong financial foundation has become more important than ever for consumers and business owners alike. BBVA Compass provides a solid foundation for its customers to help guide them toward financial success and stability and launched the U.S. Regional Watch as a means of providing the customers and communities it serves with the information they need to make sound financial decisions.

For more information on the BBVA Compass U.S. Regional Watch or to view the publication, log on to www.compassbank.com and click on the blue icon labeled "BBVA Compass U.S. Regional Watch Conference Call and Webcast."

BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 577 branches including 309 in Texas, 92 in Alabama, 77 in Arizona, 44 in Florida, 34 in Colorado and 21 in New Mexico. Compass is among the top 25 largest banks in the U.S. based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Texas (4th) and Alabama (3rd).

Compass Bank is a subsidiary of Compass Bancshares, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of BBVA (NYSE: BBV) (MAD: BBVA). BBVA is a financial services group with more than $750 billion in total assets, 47 million clients, 8,000 branches and approximately 112,000 employees in more than 30 countries. BBVA provides its customers around the world with a full range of financial services, including commercial and wholesale banking, retail banking services, consumer loans, mortgages, credit cards, securities brokerage, wealth management, pension plan management and insurance. The BBVA Group maintains a leadership position in Spain, Mexico, Latin America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States as well as operations in China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Editor's Note:

BBVA Compass is the brand of Compass Bank and is a trademark of Compass Bancshares, Inc.