BOK Financial Corporation
| Company type | Public (implied, not explicitly stated but ownership and stock info not given) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial services |
| Founded | 1910 |
| Headquarters | Tulsa , United States |
Area served | American Midwest and Southwest (including Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri) |
Key people | George Kaiser (majority owner) |
| Products | Retail and commercial banking solutions; ATM and debit card processing; investment management; securities; insurance; asset management |
| Owner | George Kaiser (more than half ownership) |
BOK Financial Corporation—articulated as "B-O-K"—is a financial services holding company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It provides an extensive array of retail and commercial banking solutions throughout the American Midwest and Southwest, ranking among the top 50 financial services companies in the United States and holding the position as Oklahoma's largest financial institution.
Its banking arm, BOKF, NA, conducts business under several names including Bank of Oklahoma, Bank of Texas, and Bank of Albuquerque. Additionally, it operates as BOK Financial across Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri. The corporation also owns the ATM and debit card processor TransFund, along with Cavanal Hill Investment Management, BOK Financial Securities, Advisors, Insurance, and Asset Management divisions.
More than half of the company is owned by George Kaiser, who purchased the bank from the FDIC in 1991. BOK Financial maintains a significant connection to the energy industry; as of mid-2021, approximately 14% of its lending portfolio was dedicated to clients within the petroleum sector.
History
Founded in 1910 with the purpose of financing energy enterprises, BOK Financial grew its regional presence to become a prominent financial institution in its markets.
The institution began as Exchange National Bank of Tulsa in 1910. By 1917, it had established its headquarters in Tulsa and expanded with a 28-story building completed in 1928, now recognized as the 320 South Boston Building. This location has remained its operational base ever since.
The bank underwent a name change to National Bank of Tulsa in 1933 and later adopted the Bank of Oklahoma title in 1975 to signify its statewide expansion. That same year, it introduced Oklahoma’s first automated teller machine. By 1979, total assets had reached $1 billion. Following the acquisition of Fidelity of Oklahoma in 1984, assets increased to $3 billion.
During a downturn in Oklahoma’s energy market, the bank faced potential insolvency. In response, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) provided a $130 million bailout in 1986 by converting preferred shares into controlling stock. This intervention led to an innovative merger involving Bank of Oklahoma entities.
On June 7, 1991, George Kaiser—then serving on the board—acquired the bank for $60.7 million with assistance from the FDIC. Under his guidance, the company was renamed BOK Financial and adopted a growth-focused strategy targeting markets beyond Oklahoma.
In 2005, BOK Financial invested $11 million to secure naming rights for Tulsa’s BOK Center, boosting its brand exposure.
On June 25, 2025, BOK Financial was designated as the official banking partner for Colorado Athletics, further extending its market presence.
Footprint and family of brands
Beginning in 1994, BOK Financial strategically expanded from its Oklahoma base through acquisitions and market entries:
- In Arkansas (1994), by acquiring a bank holding company located in northwest Arkansas.
- In Texas (1997), through merging two banks into what became Bank of Texas.
- In New Mexico (1998), by purchasing 17 branches from BankAmericaCorp and rebranding them as Bank of Albuquerque.
- In Colorado (2003), by establishing Colorado State Bank and later acquiring CoBiz Financial in 2018; these operations were subsequently rebranded as BOK Financial.
- In Arizona (2005), by launching Bank of Arizona which was also rebranded under BOK Financial in 2018.
- In Missouri (2016), through acquiring MBT Bancshares—the parent company of Missouri Bank and Trust.
In October 2019, operations across Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri were unified under the BOK Financial brand to consolidate market identity and enhance brand cohesion throughout its regional network.
Specialized Business Segments
In addition to its primary energy financing operations, BOK Financial dedicates significant resources to healthcare financing, offering tailored banking services to entities such as senior living facility managers, hospitals, healthcare systems, medical practitioners, and niche medical groups.
Furthermore, the firm collaborates with tribal governments and nations to provide financial strategies supporting healthcare, educational initiatives, and infrastructure development. With partnerships established with more than 45 tribal entities across the country, BOK Financial has enabled financing exceeding $3 billion for tribal projects and currently oversees tribal assets valued at over $4 billion.