First National to combine units
BY LAURIE WINSLOW World Staff Writer
Thursday, May 10, 2012
5/10/12 at 4:44 AM
First National Bank has announced that its two banking units - First National Bank of Muskogee and First National Bank, Sallisaw - will partner this summer to form a single community bank under a new name and brand. It also has plans to expand into a bigger Tulsa facility.
Effective July 1, First National Bank's locations will be renamed Firstar Bank.
No changes in ownership, management structure, work force or operations will occur, company officials said. The combined banks will have seven banking offices in Muskogee, Roland, Sallisaw and Tulsa with 150 employees total.
The organization plans to open an office in Fort Smith, Ark., later this year and an expanded facility in Tulsa next year.
The bank, which currently has a Tulsa branch at 10124 S. Sheridan Road, also owns 1.5 acres at the southwest corner of 101st Street and Mingo Road where it plans to build a 19,000-square-foot building. The land was purchased in August 2011 for more than $1 million.
The new site, once completed, will replace the bank's Sheridan Road location.
"The bank has completely outgrown the current location," said Jeff Ferguson, senior vice president and leader of the bank's Tulsa operation. "We have people officed in the building directly behind us already. The bank also has people at 107th and Memorial behind the doughnut shop. We have approximately 20 employees, and we're out of room."
First National originally opened in Tulsa in 2007.
Plans for the multi-level building will be unveiled in the coming weeks, with construction slated to begin late this summer and an opening set for fall 2013.
"It is important for our customers to understand that we are not changing our local presence. On the outside, we're getting a makeover but on the inside, our customers will still receive the same personal service from the same bankers they know and trust," Ferguson added in a written statement.
Customers won't need to take any action. Officials said all personal and business banking information will remain the same including account numbers and PINs. Customers will receive details about the transition in June.
The rebranding represents a partnering of two sister banks that have operated within the same financial holding company for the past six years.
At the end of March, the banks had total combined assets of $413 million.
Laurie Winslow 918-581-8466
laurie.winslow@tulsaworld.com
