Re-Routed: Arvest Bank Changes Number

Arvest Bank Group Inc. recently sent out notices to some customers who will be affected by an upcoming change in the bank’s routing number.

Following the June 2002 collapse of 16 Arvest-owned bank charters into the one previously held by Fayetteville’s McIlroy Bank & Trust Co., the bank had three years to adopt the surviving institution’s routing number in the rest of its markets.

The Federal Reserve actually allows two routing numbers, one for home-state locations and one for out-of-state branches. But the size of Arvest’s organization meant some customers in other area cities, particularly those who’ve held the same accounts for several years, would be affected.

Routing numbers are used to clear checks and other electronic transactions through the Fed’s Automated Clearing House.

Arvest has been phasing out the old routing numbers, so only an estimated 2 percent or less of its customers are apparently being affected by the April 30 cutoff date.