Brock-Press-Release - Birmingham Business Alliance

04.16.2015
Bank’s new workspace makes high-profile debut
BBVA Compass celebrates grand opening of its
state-of-the-art Development Center
o Workspace evocative of technology companies in Austin, Silicon Valley, Silicon Prairie
o Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Birmingham Mayor William Bell special guests at event
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – BBVA Compass held a grand opening ceremony in Birmingham today for
its newly renovated, state-of-the-art $13.5 million Development Center, a workspace inspired by
Silicon Valley and its agile, collaborative environments.
The special guests at the event — Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Birmingham Mayor William
Bell — telegraphed the importance of the event for the bank, which sees the new space as
emblematic of its digital future and commitment to Birmingham. The Development Center will
help BBVA Compass transform itself into a financial institution that thinks like a technology
company in order to meet the demands of 21st century customers.
“We are in the midst of a digital transformation. This is not a matter of staying trendy; it’s a matter
of survival, and our investment in our Development Center speaks to both the overhaul of our
technology and our culture,” said BBVA Compass Chairman and CEO Manolo Sánchez. “That
we are doing this in Birmingham, long an important regional financial center, is especially
important. Because Birmingham is transforming itself as a city much the same way we are
transforming as a bank.”
Featuring an open floor plan, collaborative working pods, dozens of portable white boards, and
open areas outfitted with flat screen televisions, the Development Center evokes the next great
startup. According to Chief Digital Banking Officer Jeff Dennes, the space is intended to foster
high-functioning and agile teams that work with an increased level of productivity.
“Our digital transformation is predicated on the idea that we think like a technology company,” he
said. “Technology companies intentionally build high-performing teams to create the best
products, and collaboration between units is key. The space helps foster the process.”
The million Development Center is the latest in a series of investments the bank has made in
Birmingham. In 2012, the city was the hub for the development of its game-changing $360 million
core technology platform and, most recently, the bank contributed $1.5 million to build a soccer
stadium on the University of Alabama-Birmingham’s campus. The bank is also active with the
city’s business incubator, Innovation Depot, with BBVA Compass East Region Executive Lee
Smith serving on its board. Later this month, the bank plans to open a Cross Industry
Development Center in the incubator to collaborate on technology projects with other Birmingham
companies.
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Wozniak, in Birmingham to headline the BBVA Compass Economic Forum for clients, joined the
mayor and CEO Sánchez at the event. He later toured the Development Center, stopping to
answer questions from employees and talk about innovation and the role of technology in today’s
society.
Contact details:
Christina Anderson
Corporate Communications
Tel. 205.524.5214
[email protected]
Follow @BBVACompassNews on Twitter
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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).
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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 in 2014 ranked
12th nationally in total SBA loan volume. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be
found at www.bbvacompass.com, by following @BBVACompassNews on Twitter or visiting
newsroom.bbvacompass.com.
Editor's Note:
BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank.
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