Survey ranks BOK Financial among best
BOK Financial has one of the best overall public reputations among U.S. banks this year, a survey by the Reputation Institute and American Banker magazine shows.
The recognition comes as no surprise to Jake Dollarhide, principal of Longbow Asset Management in Tulsa.
Dollarhide observed Tuesday that the company continues to impressively grow after nearly collapsing during Oklahoma’s energy bust in the 1980s.
BOK Financial, based in Tulsa, owns the Bank of Oklahoma and numerous other banks, and it offers a wide range of financial services to its corporate customers.
Not only does it have banking locations throughout the south and southwestern parts of the nation, but it also has its TransFund ATM network that extends across much of the country.
“The bank has just made an incredible comeback to create what is a super regional footprint from its near death in the 1980s,” Dollarhide said.
From an investors’ perspective, he said the bank’s stock also is an attractive buy because the operation is very healthy and has little debt, plus the nice dividend it offers.
“And it has a great reputation here in Tulsa,” Dollarhide said. “BOK is a leading corporate sponsor that supports our city and state.
“As Oklahomans, we really are much better off with BOK in our backyard,” he said.
Of 40 banks included in American Banker’s survey, BOK Financial ranked third overall and was the highest rated bank in its operating region, which includes Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Arkansas and the Kansas City metro area.
The survey appears in the magazine’s July issue, which includes a cover feature on BOK Financial and its President and CEO, Steven G. Bradshaw.
Bradshaw attributes the bank’s reputation to a multiyear focus on employee engagement and development.
“Our employees deserve all the credit for our recognition as one of the most respected banks in America,” Bradshaw said.
“The most informed view of our company and its values that a customer will have is through the actions and words of our employees. When our employees show pride in our company and their work, customers rightfully conclude we have a strong and effective culture.”
Now in its eighth year, the survey scores and rankings are based on ratings collected via an online questionnaire distributed during the first quarter of the year.
“It’s especially satisfying that the survey rates BOK Financial highly for corporate citizenship, governance, workplace, ethical behavior and fairness in the way it conducts business,” Bradshaw said. “Each of these elements are directly aligned with our core values, and we work hard to instill a commitment to our communities and our customers with our employees.”
The ratings measure the general public’s perception of where the company stands on its products and services, innovation, workplace, governance, citizenship, leadership and performance.