Meet La Feria’s New Banker

Alfonso Diaz III Takes Command at BBVA-Compass

Alfonso Diaz III was named Branch Manager and took over his executive post at La Feria’s downtown BBVA-Compass bank on February 23, 2015. He began his banking career with the company in Brownsville, his hometown, and quickly rose through the ranks to become a corporate level executive with this world-class financial institution.

He is proud of being a Valley man, and that is why he may be new in La Feria, but will be well-known to many in the area. While in school in Brownsville, he excelled in Varsity sports and exhibited winning animals in countless competitions at livestock shows in Mercedes and Los Fresnos. Not surprising when you consider that he was raised on a small family ranch. “We had horses, goats, pigs and cattle,” he said. “I grew up working with and caring for animals, and the desire to help people.”

Diaz attributes that desire as the motivation to serve two years (2006-2008) with the AmeriCorps after graduating from Simon Rivera High School and pursuing a degree in business at the University of Texas in Brownsville.

With the AmeriCorps, he completed 3,400 hours of community service for the underserved population of Brownsville through the Brownsville Community Health Center. “Those years were a great experience for me,” he said. “It was satisfying to assist indigent people with their medical and financial needs. We did things for people who had no other means of help: This community outreach program did so many untold good deeds from getting school books and back packs for kids to free diabetic exams–I’m proud of that work.”

His banking career began as a bank teller in 2008 and quickly moved up the corporate ranks becoming a teller supervisor, sales representative, and then a senior sales representative through hard work. “I’ve always believed in a strong personal relationship with my customers and staff.”

Diaz was recruited in November 2012 by BBVA Compass Bank as a sales and service representative. He continued his upward trajectory finishing in the top 1% in the company in 2013 and 2014. He became a member of the BBVA Compass Pinnacle Club, the highest achievement a BBVA Compass Bank employee can earn.

In 2015 he was promoted to Branch Retail Executive Level III at the La Feria banking center. “I have been blessed with a wonderful team of individuals what work hard and go above and beyond the expectations of service,” he said. “My vision for the La Feria branch aligns with BBVA’s corporate vision of “working for a better future for all people by helping them save their money, make money, and protect their money.

“I would like to mention a number of individuals, both family and banking colleagues who have helped me tremendously. They include: my late father Alfonso Diaz, Jr.; Aurora Villarreal; Kassandra Diaz; Eddie Villarreal; Claudia Gonzalez, and Juan Garcia,” he said.
“I want to thank them for their guidance and their undying support.”

Diaz concluded our visit by saying: “I would like to invite the citizens of La Feria to visit our bank center where they will be received with friendly smiles and a warm welcome.”