EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Compass Bancshares, Inc. of our report dated February 25, 2005 relating to the financial statements, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Compass Bancshares Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Birmingham, Alabama
November 22, 2005