BBVA BBVA Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA

HOUSTON, March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This Spring, BBVA Compass and the NBA are teaming up for a mobile grassroots basketball tour called BBVA Compass NBA "Team. Works. on Tour(SM)." Making its debut on Saturday, April 2 in McAllen, Texas, the tour will make 30 stops in nine markets over the course of two months. Scheduled stops are located within the BBVA Compass Sunbelt footprint and include: Albuquerque, Birmingham, Dallas/Fort Worth area, Denver, Houston, Jacksonville, Phoenix, the Rio Grande Valley, and San Antonio.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110331/DA74884LOGO)

The family-friendly mobile tour will feature a 53-foot, 18-wheel truck that transforms into 6,000 square feet of basketball activities. Fans of all ages will have the opportunity to shoot, slam, dribble and drive on two different custom basketball courts.  Adults can showcase their talents and compete against friends in skills challenges and shooting contests on the BBVA Compass Center Court.  For the smaller ballers there will be a specially designed court complete with junior sized hoops perfect for pint-sized slam dunks, three-pointers and jump shots. Fans can step on board the show truck and have their photo taken in a replica NBA locker room, complete with authentic NBA team jerseys, or play the latest NBA video games. The show truck's giant video wall will feature NBA game footage and BBVA Compass product and service information.

NBA Legend and seven-time NBA Champion Robert Horry will be the official tour ambassador, traveling to the majority of the tour stops. Horry will be available to greet fans, sign autographs and participate in a variety of games and activities.

"As part of our partnership with the NBA, BBVA Compass is pleased to be able to bring the BBVA Compass NBA 'Team. Works. on Tour' event to communities across our Sunbelt footprint," said Manolo Sanchez, BBVA US Country Manager and BBVA Compass President and CEO. "The communities in which we operate are very important to us and through this tour, we are proud that we will be able to engage many families living within them in unique and exciting NBA-based activities which also promote the values of teamwork and fair play. NBA fans of all ages will enjoy the activities the event provides."

"Grassroots events and community programs are an integral part of how we and our partners connect with NBA fans locally," said Mark Tatum, NBA Executive Vice President, Global Marketing Partnerships. "The BBVA Compass NBA 'Team. Works. on Tour' program and the accompanying community events will help celebrate our partnership with BBVA and create a strong connection between BBVA Compass and fans across the Sunbelt centered around the game of basketball."

BBVA Compass NBA "Team. Works. on Tour" features a variety of activities, including:

• The BBVA Bank Shot – Two chosen fans will compete against one another and will have 30 seconds to score as many bank shots as they can. At the end of 30 seconds, the contestant with the most points scored off of bank shots wins.
• NBA Fit Skills & Drills – Children will have the chance to participate in this drill, which will include the skills of ball handling and shooting. The drill's main focus is to encourage teamwork and communication. Each child will receive a gift for participation.
• Clearpoints Shootout – Two teams of five will participate, lining up outside of the free throw or 3-point line. Each team will begin simultaneously. After taking a shot, the same individual will rebound the ball and pass the ball to the next person in line. The teams rotate and shoot until one team makes seven points.
• BBVA Fastest to the Basket – Children will compete one at a time to make a lay-up, free-throw and 3-pointer as fast as they can. The child who makes all three of the shots the quickest wins a prize.

BBVA Compass NBA "Team. Works. on Tour(SM)" Dates:

In conjunction with BBVA Compass NBA "Team. Works. on Tour," NBA Cares and BBVA will be conducting the Team. Works. in Schools(SM) initiative. Launched in January, "Team. Works. in Schools" works to refurbish schools throughout the BBVA Compass Sunbelt footprint. In January, BBVA Compass and NBA Cares refurbished Jesse Jones High School in Houston. As part of the revitalization, the school received new paint, landscaping, and a renovation of the library and technology center, including new computers, printers, books, and other educational resources. This was the first of six such projects between BBVA Compass and NBA Cares. "Team. Works. in Schools" revitalization projects are planned to coincide with BBVA Compass NBA "Team. Works. on Tour" and refurbishments will take place at schools in Birmingham, Dallas/Fort Worth, McAllen, Phoenix, and San Antonio.

About BBVA Group

BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) (MAD: BBVA) is a financial services group with more than euro 557 billion in total assets, almost 48 million clients, 7,400 branches and 107,000 employees in more than 30 countries. BBVA provides its customers around the world with a full range of financial services. The BBVA Group maintains a leadership position in Spain, Mexico, Latin America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States. BBVA is also developing strong operations in Asia, specifically in China, and has just entered the Turkish market with the acquisition of a 24.9% stake in the Turkiye Garanti Bankasi, the first bank of Turkey.

As of December 31, 2010, BBVA has a market capitalization of euro 38 billion and it is listed in the main international stock exchanges, London NYSE and Madrid, among others. BBVA reported in 2010 recurrent attributable profit of euro 4.6 billion. BBVA is one of the top leading Euro zone banks in terms of ROE and efficiency. More information about the BBVA Group can be found at www.bbva.com.

BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 716 branches including 380 in Texas, 93 in Alabama, 65 in California, 77 in Arizona, 45 in Florida, 36 in Colorado and 20 in New Mexico. BBVA Compass is the 15th largest U.S. commercial bank based on deposit market share. Additional information concerning BBVA Compass can be found on our website www.bbvacompass.com.

Editor's Note:

BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank. Compass Bank, member FDIC.

SOURCE BBVA Compass