Compass Bancshares Named to Forbes Platinum 400 List for Seventh Consecutive Year.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Compass Bancshares, Inc., (Nasdaq: CBSS) is pleased to announce its inclusion in Forbes Magazine's prestigious ranking of the top 400 best big companies in America for the seventh consecutive year. Compass was one of only 14 banking companies named to the "Platinum 400" and one of only five banking companies to have earned this distinction for seven or more years. In addition, Compass ranked first in rewarding shareholders with the highest five-year total return among all banks on the list.

"Compass' inclusion on the Platinum 400 provides further evidence that our growth strategies are working and continue to produce superior results. We continue to believe that generating consistent growth in earnings and reinvesting in our franchise through targeted geographical expansion in key Sunbelt markets are the best way to ensure that long-term value is created for our shareholders," said D. Paul Jones, Jr., Compass chairman and chief executive officer.

The Forbes "Platinum 400" is based on companies with at least $1 billion in revenue that receive high rankings for corporate practices as well as long- and short-term sales and earnings growth and stock market performance.

Compass Bancshares, Inc. is a $30.1 billion Southwestern financial holding company which operates 385 full-service banking centers including 139 in Texas, 89 in Alabama, 73 in Arizona, 42 in Florida, 32 in Colorado and 10 in New Mexico. Compass is among the top 30 U.S. bank holding companies by asset size and ranks among the top earners of its size based on return on equity. Shares of Compass' common stock are traded through the Nasdaq stock market under the symbol CBSS. Additional information about Compass, a member of the S&P 500 Index and Dow Jones Select Dividend Index, can be found at www.compassbank.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

In accordance with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Compass Bancshares, Inc. notes that any statements in this press release, and elsewhere, that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results of operations to differ materially from expected results. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year as well as its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.