Notably, the bank escaped unscathed from the mortgage-lending crisis that scuttled so many financial institutions during 2008 and 2009. In fact, BOK took a contrarian approach during that turbulent time, one that ultimately paid off, recounts Steve Bradshaw, who took over as president and CEO of BOK Financial last year.
“A lot of banks were getting out of the mortgage business and independent firms were closing up because risk was elevated—but the returns were being elevated in that space as well,” he says. “We saw that as an opportunity to jump in and, as a result, we tripled that business. It went from being almost nonexistent in terms of earnings for us to accounting for 15 percent of our earnings by 2012 and about 13 percent last year.” However, things were not quite as rosy when Bradshaw first joined BOK back in 1991.
“George is an amazing entrepreneur. He had a bold vision for the bank—and you know what? It was right.”
Just a year prior, the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based business had faltered and been placed into Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation receivership. Concerned that the bank would get gobbled up, depriving Oklahoma energy businesses of their go-to financial institution, wealthy local oilman George Kaiser bought it himself for about $60 million.
“George is an amazing entrepreneur,” recalls Bradshaw, who sold his own small retail securities firm to Kaiser and joined BOK to help it establish a new consumer investment business.
“He had a bold vision for the bank—and you know what? It was right.” Under Kaiser’s ownership, BOK set its sights on expanding into neighboring markets. The bank now operates in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Utah. Today, it is a $27.4 billion corporation providing commercial and consumer banking, investment and trust services, mortgage origination and servicing, and the TransFund electronic funds transfer network. That general description, however, doesn’t quite capture the bank’s specialty—an expertise in energy lending and a commitment to seeing investments through.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
