We know you have questions.

Please see below for answers to most frequently asked questions. Don't see what you're looking for? Submit your own question.

Does BBVA Compass expect to continue the AirMiles Checking program which awards American Airlines AAdvantage miles?
We expect the program awarding airline frequent flier awards to continue under the current terms and conditions at least through the end of the year, although arrangements with American Airlines are pending. If there are any changes to the program, we will communicate with all participating customers at that time.

Is BBVA Compass the same as the Compass Bank in Texas?
Yes. BBVA Compass is a trade name for Compass Bank. The BBVA Compass brand was first introduced in August 2008, with all of our signage being replaced across our six-state footprint by February 2009.

The BBVA Compass brand represents our ongoing commitment to our communities and the future of Compass Bank. This new brand is a symbol of strength to those who desire the security of a financial institution strong enough to withstand the economic turmoil, yet diverse enough to meet their financial needs.

What does BBVA stand for?
BBVA stands for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, reflecting the merger of two Spanish banks - Banco Bilbao Vizcaya and Argentaria in 2001. BBVA is a financial services group with more than $750 billion in total assets, 48 million clients, 8,000 branches and approximately 108,000 employees in more than 30 countries. BBVA has a history of more than 150 years and ranks among the top seven largest financial institutions in the world based on market capitalization. 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.

BBVA Compass is a trade name for Compass Bank. Compass Bank is an Alabama-chartered U.S. banking institution and member of the Federal Reserve and FDIC. Compass Bank is a subsidiary of BBVA, the second largest bank in Spain and ranked the 13th safest bank in the world according to Global Finance magazine.

What happens to the Guaranty stock I own? Is it worth nothing now?
All shares of Guaranty Bank were owned by its holding company, Guaranty Financial Group, Inc. The holding company was not included in the closing of the bank, the resulting receivership or the purchase by BBVA Compass. If you are a shareholder of Guaranty Financial Group, Inc., you should contact Guaranty Financial Group, Inc. directly for information as follows:

Guaranty Financial Group, Inc.
8333 Douglas Avenue
Dallas, TX 75225
1-214-360-1967

We recently received new Guaranty Visa Cards. They were the renewal of our old ones. We have not activated them yet. Should we go ahead and activate or wait until we receive new ones from BBVA?
Yes. For now, it’s business as usual so go ahead and activate and use your Visa cards. At a later date, BBVA Compass will convert your Guaranty accounts to offerings at BBVA Compass that most closely resemble what you have at that time. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

Guaranty Bank recently started offering a $750 overdraft privilege. Is this still available? If so, what will the new terms and fees be with BBVA Compass?
Yes. This product is still available, and at this time, BBVA Compass will honor the terms of this promotion. At a later date, BBVA Compass will convert your Guaranty accounts to offerings at BBVA Compass that most closely resemble what you have at that time. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

I have a Guaranty 50 checking account with free cashier’s checks. Will I still have these services?
Yes. At a later date, BBVA Compass will convert your Guaranty accounts to offerings at BBVA Compass that most closely resemble what you have at that time. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

Will I still receive a refund of ATM fees, with no rebate forms, when I use other banks’ ATMs? And will these programs continue?
Yes. If your current Guaranty account includes free ATMs as a feature, this will continue to be honored by BBVA Compass. Please note that in addition to your continued use of Guaranty Bank ATM locations, effective immediately you also have access to BBVA Compass’ expanded ATM network for cash withdrawals across all seven of the Sunbelt states we serve with fees waived.

At a later date, BBVA Compass will convert your Guaranty accounts to offerings at BBVA Compass that most closely resemble what you have at that time. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

Do you plan to continue the nickel (5 cents) back on signature based check card transactions?
Yes. At this time, BBVA Compass will honor the terms of this promotion. At a later date, BBVA Compass will convert your Guaranty accounts to offerings at BBVA Compass that most closely resemble what you have at that time. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

Will you still honor Guaranty’s promotion that promised me $100.00 if I opened a checking account by a 7/18/09 and make at least one transaction a week for the first 3 months?
Yes. At this time, BBVA Compass will honor the terms of this promotion. At a later date, BBVA Compass will convert your Guaranty accounts to offerings at BBVA Compass that most closely resemble what you have at that time. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

Will my direct deposit and online bill pay remain the same and do I need to notify vendors of any changes?
For now, direct deposit and automated deductions or transfers that you have set up will continue without interruption. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

Will my routing number and account number change?
For now, it will be business as usual. Please continue to use your existing checks at this time. At a later date, BBVA Compass will convert your Guaranty accounts to offerings at BBVA Compass that most closely resemble what you have at that time. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

I am unable to log in online. What do I do?
You can continue to access your online banking via www.guarantybank.com and log in as you have in the past. If you have forgotten your password or need any assistance with your online banking access, please call our online banking customer service line at 1-800-925-6181. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

I heard in a news cast that Guaranty bank customers may have trouble accessing their money for several days. Is this true?
No. Customers have complete access to all their accounts as they normally would. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

Will the fees on my account change?
For now, it will be business as usual. At a later date, BBVA Compass will convert your Guaranty accounts to offerings at BBVA Compass that most closely resemble what you have at that time. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

I need to order new checks for my Guaranty checking account. Will the new checks have the Guaranty name or BBVA Compass name? If they will have Guaranty, how long will they be good to use?
For now, it will be business as usual. Your new checks will bear the Guaranty name and continue to be processed as they have been in the past. We expect to integrate Guaranty Bank to the BBVA Compass operating systems and product platforms in early 2010, if not earlier. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

Will the name of the bank change? And will my checks and other Guaranty branded items carry the BBVA Compass brand instead? If yes, when will that happen?
For now, it will be business as usual. We expect to integrate Guaranty Bank to the BBVA Compass operating systems and product platforms in early 2010, if not earlier. The name of the bank will change to BBVA Compass, timed to coincide with the integration. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

Will wire transfer instructions stay the same?
For now, it will be business as usual. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

Is there a withdrawal penalty if I want to close-out my CD account before it matures?
Because interest rates may be much lower now than when your CD account was opened, it may be in your best interest to maintain your CD until maturity. However, your are permitted to withdraw funds from a non-transaction deposit account (such as a CD) transferred from Guaranty Bank to BBVA Compass without an early withdrawal penalty, but subject to the terms of any pledge of the deposit as collateral for a loan. If you have any questions about current CD rates, visit your local branch for more information.

Is there a time limit on when I can withdraw my CD funds without penalty?
The time limit is based on the original date of maturity for each CD account. You may withdraw funds without penalty before the maturity date.

How will I, as a customer, be affected by this transaction?
At this time, there will be no changes to the way you conduct your banking business. A seamless experience for customers is our number-one priority. While conducting your banking business, you should feel confident that your deposits are safe because they are backed by the strength and security of BBVA Compass and are fully insured by the FDIC up to applicable limits.

As a highly valued customer, we want you to rest assured that it is business as usual:

We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential changes as they are available.

Will my deposits still be FDIC insured?
Yes. Your deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC according to applicable rules and limits. If you have questions or concerns about larger deposits or FDIC limits, visit your local branch or call the FDIC customer information line at 1-877-275-3342.

What if I currently have deposits at both BBVA Compass and Guaranty Bank and the combined deposits exceed $250,000? Are all funds insured?
If you have deposits at both Guaranty Bank and BBVA Compass in excess of the $250,000 limit, the accounts transferred to BBVA Compass will be separately insured for 6 months after the transaction. CDs from Guaranty Bank are separately insured until the earliest maturity date after the end of the six-month grace period. CDs that mature during the six-month grace period and are renewed for the same term and in the same dollar amount (either with or without accrued interest) continue to be separately insured until the first maturity date after the six-month grace period. If a CD matures during the six-month grace period and is renewed on any other basis, or is not renewed and thereby becomes a demand deposit, it would be separately insured only until the end of the six-month grace period.

Will there be any changes to the interest rates on my Certificate of Deposit?
No. We will honor the rates and terms and conditions on your certificate of deposit. As each certificate of deposit reaches maturity, you will be able to review the variety of rates and terms offered at that time.

Can I conduct my Guaranty Bank business at a BBVA Compass branch?
There will be a short transition period before we are able to convert the operating systems of Guaranty Bank to BBVA Compass’ operating systems and products platform. Currently, we expect the conversion to take place at the beginning of 2010. Until then, you should continue to use your usual Guaranty Bank branch for conducting your banking business.

However, you are always welcome to visit a BBVA Compass branch or visit our Web site (www.bbvacompass.com) to learn more about the expanded products and services that we provide customers.

Can I use BBVA Compass ATMs?
Yes. In addition to using Guaranty Bank ATM locations, effective immediately you have access to BBVA Compass’ expanded ATM network (for cash withdrawals) across all six of the Sunbelt states we serve, and we will waive any ATM fees.

What if I use Treasury Management Services?
At this time, there will be no changes to your Treasury Management Services. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and other potential changes that may affect you as a customer of BBVA Compass.

What if I have a Guaranty Bank loan and/or line of credit?
Continue making your payments just as you do today. We will make sure to notify you well in advance of improvements, additional conveniences and any other potential change that could affect you. Again, please rest assured that our number-one priority is ensuring a seamless experience for you – the customer.

Can you tell me more about what this change in ownership will mean to me as a customer?

The combination of our companies will provide significant benefits for you, including but not limited to the following:

Who is BBVA Compass? Who is BBVA?
BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. BBVA Compass operates 579 branches, including 306 in Texas, 93 in Alabama, 77 in Arizona, 45 in Florida, 36 in Colorado and 22 in New Mexico. BBVA Compass ranks as the fourth-largest bank in Texas by deposit market share and has a long history of serving Texas communities: a history, in fact, that dates back to 1892 in the Laredo market.

In 2009, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) selected BBVA Compass as the top 7(a) Lender of the Year for large banking institutions.

BBVA Compass is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA). BBVA, a leading financial services group with more than $750 billion in assets, 48 million clients and 8,000 branches, is based in Spain and operates in more than 30 countries, including substantial banking interests in the Americas. BBVA was recently ranked by Global Finance magazine as the 13th safest bank in the world.

Did BBVA Compass participate in the capital portion of the TARP?
No. BBVA Compass did not receive any additional capital under the TARP. All of our regulatory capital ratios continue to exceed “well-capitalized” as set forth by the Federal Reserve. BBVA Compass has participated in certain other government programs designed to stabilize the U.S. financial system. For example: BBVA Compass elected to continue to participate in the FDIC’s Transaction Account Guarantee Program. This program provides full deposit insurance coverage for non interest bearing transaction deposit accounts, regardless of dollar amount, until the end of 2009. The coverage provided by this program is over and above the $250,000 in coverage otherwise provided by standard FDIC insurance. BBVA Compass has participated in other government programs that provide BBVA Compass customers additional comfort and security and that make good financial sense.

What can customers expect in the interim? Who is going to be my day-to-day contact?
There will be no change in how you conduct business with the bank, and your day-to-day contacts remain the same. Guaranty Bank relationship managers, bankers, tellers and all of the other professionals you are currently working closely with will continue to serve you. We will continue to practice our “customer comes first” service commitment to you. We will make every effort to keep you informed about important developments throughout the integration process. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this further, please feel free to contact your local Guaranty Bank representative.

Will the branches change their name to BBVA Compass?
Yes, the plan is to change Guaranty Bank’s name to BBVA Compass. However, the name will not change until we are able to convert Guaranty Bank’s operating systems to our operating systems and product platform. At this time, we expect the conversion to take place at the beginning of 2010.

Will any branches be closed?
Potentially some branches may close where overlap exists between Guaranty Bank branches and BBVA Compass branches. However, the overlap is very limited, and we have not had enough time to make any final conclusions. Please rest assured that we will notify you well in advance of any potential closings that may affect you as a customer. We will also make every effort to minimize any inconvenience or disruption.

I understand that BBVA Compass is a subsidiary of a foreign company. How will this affect me as a customer?
Although BBVA Compass is a subsidiary of BBVA, a highly regarded international financial group headquartered in Spain, BBVA Compass is a U.S. bank – Alabama-chartered and a member of the Federal Reserve System. As such, BBVA Compass is governed by U.S. banking laws and regulations, including those regarding the privacy and protection of customer information. BBVA Compass is regulated by the Federal Reserve, FDIC, and the Alabama State Banking Department. Therefore, operating as a U.S. bank with the support of a world-class parent organization, BBVA Compass is focused on being the local bank of choice here in the U.S.