BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BBVA Compass announced that Mark Smith has been named Wealth Management Market Executive for Birmingham and Montgomery. Smith will oversee all private banking services in those markets, managing a team of professionals that provides a broad array of customized investment products and financial services to high-net-worth individuals, families and corporations through BBVA Compass and its non-bank affiliates. BBVA Compass also announced that veteran banker Gary Bishop will be relocating to Birmingham. Bishop will resume his role of senior relationship manager for Wealth Management.

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"Mark has a proven track record of successful results. He is a client focused, trusted financial advisor and appointing him to this position is a visible indication of the importance of growing our Wealth Management presence in this key market," said Steve Sanak, Head of Wealth Management Private Banking.

"I am confident that Mark and Gary will provide vital leadership to our Birmingham team. By leveraging their talents, they will take our Wealth Management services to the next level and enable us to offer our clients the best solutions to meet all their financial needs and simplify their lives," stated Sanak.

Smith joined BBVA Compass in 2006 as a private banker. During his 19-year career in the financial services industry he has worked in leadership positions in consumer banking, business banking, credit administration and product management. Smith received a bachelor's degree from Auburn University and an MBA from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is also a graduate of The Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.  

A Birmingham native, Bishop began his career with BBVA Compass as a branch loan officer over 25 years ago. Through the years he has served as a consumer lender and private banking manager and most recently served as Wealth Management Market Executive for the Fort Worth area. Bishop is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Southern Trust School. Bishop has always been very active in the community and plans to resume his civic involvement to reflect his commitment to his hometown.

Both Smith and Bishop are also registered representatives of BBVA Compass Investment Solutions, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC, a broker-dealer affiliate of BBVA Compass.

Additional changes to Birmingham Wealth Management include the promotion of Brent Boltwood to Assistant Vice President and Private Banker. Boltwood is a graduate of Samford University. His office is now located at the BBVA Compass headquarters where he will assist Smith, Bishop and team.

ABOUT BBVA COMPASS

BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 723 branches including 387 in Texas, 92 in Alabama, 65 in California, 77 in Arizona, 45 in Florida, 36 in Colorado and 21 in New Mexico. BBVA Compass is the 15th largest U.S. commercial bank based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (3rd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (5th). For the second consecutive year, BBVA Compass was named as a "Lender of the Year" by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Additional information concerning BBVA Compass can be found on our website www.bbvacompass.com.

BBVA Compass is a subsidiary of Compass Bancshares, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) (MAD: BBVA). BBVA is a financial services group with approximately $755 billion in total assets, 48 million clients, 7,400 branches and approximately 104,000 employees in more than 30 countries. BBVA ranks among the top 20 largest financial institutions in the world based on market capitalization and 20th in Global Finance magazine's list of the "World's 50 Safest Banks" for 2009. 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.

Securities and investment products available through BBVA Compass, BBVA Compass Wealth Solutions, Inc. and other BBVA Compass non-bank affiliates:  are not FDIC insured; have no bank guarantee; and may lose value.

SOURCE BBVA Compass