Former Bank of America Houston and Texas state president to add
expertise and drive expansion in one of the corporation’s fastest
growing markets
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Bank of Texas, a division of BOK Financial (NASDAQ: BOKF), has hired Kim
Ruth to lead the company’s newly expanded Houston Region. The former
Bank of America Houston and Texas state president will become the
chairman of Bank of Texas Houston Region. This is a new position
developed to focus expansion efforts on the fast-growing greater Houston
market. Randy Walker, CEO of Bank of Texas Houston Market, will report
to Ruth.
In her new role, Ruth will be the market executive responsible for all
client relationships and bank operations in the region.
“Kim Ruth is a tremendous banking talent. Her diverse perspective and
experiences will help us take what is already a successful franchise and
expand it to meet its full potential,” said Norm Bagwell, CEO of Bank of
Texas and executive vice president for regional banks at BOK Financial.
Bagwell said BOK Financial targeted Houston as a major market for
expansion as the company seeks to build its presence in its regional
markets. As a result, the company is splitting the management of the
state in half so each leadership team can focus on its current
geographic area and seek to grow into new areas. The North Region will
include the company’s current operations in Dallas and Fort Worth, and
will report to Mark Wade, president and COO of Bank of Texas. The
Houston Region will include the central and southern parts of the state
and report to Ruth.
In addition to growing in Houston, the bank plans to leverage its wealth
management and mortgage operations in San Antonio and Austin under the
expanded Houston Region.
“BOK Financial’s success centers around strong regional market
leadership throughout our footprint,” said Dan Ellinor, chief operating
officer for BOK Financial. “The addition of Kim Ruth to the already
solid management team in the state positions us well to take our Texas
presence to the next level.”
Ruth served in a number of roles in her 20-year history with Bank of
America in Houston with increasing responsibility within commercial
banking. She served as Houston market president and Texas state
president for 10 years and five years, respectively.
Throughout her experience there, Ruth managed business segments across
multiple states, focusing on advising and serving the needs of $5
million to $2 billion-sized business. Most recently, she was in Los
Angeles with Merrill Lynch, a Bank of America subsidiary, in a regional
role managing the wealth management advisory business.
Ruth’s experience in the commercial banking and wealth management arenas
will bode well for Bank of Texas clients in the Houston region, said
Bagwell.
“We pride ourselves on providing the personalized service of a local
bank with the robust product offerings and sophistication of a $28
billion national bank,” said Bagwell. “When you combine that with Kim’s
experience and relationships, I believe you end up with a tremendous
outcome for our clients in this region.”
Bank of Texas has 37 full service branches in Texas, with 12 in Houston,
16 in Dallas and nine in Fort Worth. The company also operates wealth
management and mortgage offices in Austin and San Antonio, and services
clients across the state of Texas.
About BOK Financial Corporation
BOK
Financial Corporation is a $28 billion regional financial services
company based in Tulsa, Okla. The company's stock is publicly traded on
NASDAQ under the Global Select market listings (symbol: BOKF). BOK
Financial's holdings include BOKF, NA, BOSC,
Inc. and The Milestone Group, Inc.BOKF, NA operates the TransFund, Cavanal
Hill Investment Management, MBM Advisors and seven banking
divisions: Bank
of Albuquerque, Bank
of Arizona, Bank
of Arkansas, Bank
of Kansas City, Bank
of Oklahoma, Bank
of Texas, and Colorado
State Bank and Trust. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides
commercial and consumer banking, investment and trust services, mortgage
origination and servicing, and an electronic funds transfer network. For
more information, visit www.bokf.com.
BOK Financial Corporation
Joe Crivelli, 918-595-3027
Director
of Investor Relations
and
Andrea Myers, 918-594-7794
Director
of Corporate Communications
Source: BOK Financial Corporation