Compass Bancshares Chosen to KBW `Honor Roll' for Third Consecutive Year

Business Wire, March 15, 2000

Business Editors

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2000

For the third consecutive year, Compass Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:CBSS) has been recognized as one of the best performing banks over the last decade by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW), a New York investment banking firm specializing in financial services. Compass was the only Sunbelt-based bank named to KBW's 2000 "Honor Roll," and one of just 13 honored nationwide out of the 147 companies followed by KBW.

KBW's Honor Roll acknowledges banking companies that have continually reported increases in earnings per share regardless of the banking environment over the last 10 years. KBW's analysis was based upon originally reported earnings per share and included all nonrecurring expenses, such as merger-related or other restructuring charges.

"The recognition by KBW of Compass' ability to deliver consistent earnings growth is further confirmation that our strategies work. We continue to believe that generating consistent growth in earnings is the best way to ensure that long-term value is created for our shareholders," Compass chairman and chief executive officer D. Paul Jones, Jr. said.

Compass Bancshares Inc. is an $18.2 billion Sunbelt-based financial services provider with more than 6,700 employees and 310 full-service banking offices in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Arizona and Alabama. When the pending acquisition of MegaBank Financial Corporation in Denver is completed, Compass will have assets of more than $18.6 billion and operate 319 banking offices in the six states.

Compass is among the top 40 U.S. bank holding companies by asset size and ranks among the top earners of its size based on return on equity. The company's earnings per share have increased for 12 consecutive years and dividends per share have increased for 19 consecutive years. Shares of Compass' common stock are traded through the Nasdaq stock market under the symbol CBSS.