Lender BBVA Compass plans to open a mortgage operation center in Tempe, Ariz., creating 100 new jobs for mortgage professionals in the area. The center, the fourth for BBVA Compass, will help the bank serve its growing portfolio of mortgage business in the Sunbelt, BBVA Compass said in a statement. Birmingham, Ala.-based BBVA Compass is a subsidiary of Compass Bancshares Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BBVA (BBVA). “Tempe is a natural fit for our new mortgage operations center,” said Jon Mulkin, BBVA Compass consumer segment director. “We currently have space in the city with existing infrastructure that we will be able to leverage. In addition, Tempe has a large labor pool of mortgage professionals which is useful for recruiting.” The company already has three mortgage operations centers in Birmingham, Ala., as well as McAllen and Laredo, Texas. Write to Kerri Panchuk.