Arvest Retail Prototype Plays Well

TULSA — Arvest’s new retail prototype on 51st Street in Tulsa looks more like a Gap store than a bank.

There’s neon everywhere. A door greeter, a la Wal-Mart, wears a headset and fields phone calls and shakes hands from a podium station near the door.

Comfy couches and chairs for lounging are all around and a play area is ready and waiting complete with children’s toys. Backlit signage touts every Arvest State Bank product from checking services to asset management. A glass ring of departmental offices circles the lobby and steers customers toward the main desk.

A classic theater marquee above the door thanks customers for their business. Everyone says hello.

“This is how we hope to position our retail banks in the future,” said Don Walker, Arvest State Bank’s president and CEO. “You will see this look and feel companywide. We think the retail flair gives people a good feeling. We’re getting away from the traditional red brick look, and as a result this is one of our fastest-growing banks.”

The bank, one of two nouveau offices being tested in Tulsa, has been tweaked since its 1998 opening. As of its June 30 filing with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the 51st Street branch had $11.5 million in deposits — speedy growth for an office that’s probably 99 percent consumer accounts.

Thushari Cameron manages the 4,000-SF branch, which cost $1.75 million including a land lease and construction. She said people love Arvest’s new banks, which feature mustard-colored exteriors with bright blue and red trim.

“Customers always walk in and say the office looks like a fast food restaurant,” Cameron said. “I think it makes them open up to us more.”

Walker said the retail look would play well in even more rural areas. Conversational service, he said, is the secret.

“Our tellers speak when someone walks in the door,” Walker said. “That’s something I demand. We’ve been developing friendly service in Northwest Arkansas for 20 years, but it didn’t happen in Tulsa until Arvest came to town.

“People just came in and were quiet as a mouse and tried to leave without being noticed.”

City — Number of offices — Chartered as

1.Bartlesville — 5 — WestStar Bank

2.Bethany — 1 — Arvest Bank

3.Broken Arrow — 3 — Arvest State Bank

4.Choctaw — 1 — Arvest Bank

5.Del City — 1 — Arvest Bank

6.Dewey — 1 — WestStar Bank

7.Duncan — 2 — Arvest Bank

8.Edmond — 3 — Arvest Bank

9.Jay — 1 — The Deleware County Bank

10.Kansas — 1 — The Deleware County Bank

11.Lawton — 2 — Arvest Bank

12.Moore — 1 — Arvest Bank

13.Norman — 6 — Arvest Bank

14.Nowata — 1 — WestStar Bank

15.Oklahoma City — 8 — Arvest Bank

16.Owasso — 1 — Arvest State Bank

17.Sapulpa — 1 — Arvest State Bank

18.Shawnee — 3 — Arvest Bank

19.Stilwell — 1 — Arvest Bank

20.Tulsa — 13 — Arvest State Bank

21.Walters — 1 — Arvest Bank

22.Westville — 1 — Arvest Bankt

23.Yukon — 1 — Arvest Bank