The History of our Bank
The town that became Nowata can trace its roots back to 1868 when a trading post was established during Indian Territory days. The community was first called California Station. The Missouri Pacific Railroad, around 1886 was pushing toward the south through the northeastern section of the Cooweescoowee District of the Cherokee Nation. When on November 1, 1887, the first post office was established in the fledgling town, its name was changed to Metz after the postmaster, Fred Metzner. Two years later, on November 8, 1889, the town of Nowata was recorded. In 1892, the Cherokee Nation set up the town-site of Nowata as one-mile square, and lots were sold at auction. J.E. Campbell established the first mercantile store in Nowata and it was built at the same time as the railroad depot. As the vast riches of oil and gas and fertile grazing lands on all sides of Nowata were discovered and worked, the trading post grew into a small city and Campbell began working to establish the first Bank in the county.
The first Bank in Nowata known as the "Bank of Nowata" was opened and incorporated on June 21, 1898 (before the government incorporated Nowata in 1904). It was established by a partnership formed of J.E. Campbell, William Johnstone, E.B. Lawson, James Mehlin and Ben J. Scoville. These directors and stockholders initiated the Bank with capital stock of $10,000, divided into 100 shares of $100 each. Johnstone was elected the first president, E.B. Lawson as vice president, J.E.Campbell as cashier and W.E. Endley as assistant cashier.
The original Bank, built in 1898, was a three-story structure erected on the present corner lot at Cherokee and Maple. The first directors purchased the lot for $61.75. The Bank was located on the first floor, County offices on the second floor, and the first County Courtroom on the third floor. This building was destroyed by fire in 1909.
The new two-story Bank building was erected later that same year, with capital stock in the amount of $25,000, and was then named the First National Bank of Nowata. In 1936, twenty-seven years later, the Bank was sold to Roy E. Cobbs, J. Wood Glass, and Ross R. Bayless. A few years later, in 1940, George W. Lee moved to Nowata and bought stock in the Bank. In 1944 he and his long time associate, Ross R. Bayless, purchased controlling interest of the First National Bank of Nowata. Bayless was President of the Bank and Lee was Vice President. Bayless retired in 1958 and sold his interest in the Bank to Lee who then owned controlling interest and took over the reigns as President.
In 1958 George's son, Bryan, became involved in First National Bank of Nowata. Before this time, Bryan had earned a degree in Banking from Oklahoma State University, served his country for 2 years in the United States Army and started his Banking career in Pawhuska. Bryan joined the Bank in the capacity of Cashier and a member of the Board of Directors. Ten years later he was elected as President and in 1972, Trust Officer. Bryan Lee became Chairman of the Board in 1982. Under the leadership of Bryan Lee, the First National Bank completed a major building project in August of 1984. The Bank building was completely renovated doubling the floor space to 14,000 feet. A new drive thru Bank was opened in late 1983 as part of this project.
In 1991 Bryan's son, BC, joined the Bank as Assistant Cashier. Five years later, in 1996, BC became the third generation of Lee's to hold the position of President at First National Bank. During this same year the name of the Bank changed to First National Bank & Trust Company. In December of 1995 a full service branch was opened in South Coffeyville for northern Nowata County and Southeast Kansas. The branch currently retains 4 staff.
The directors, due to a need of more space at the main Bank, initiated another expansion and renovation in 1997. In October of 1998, the Bank completed this project. This design included segregating facilities for the Trust Department, library/training room, adding a community room with full kitchen and expanding the Loan Department. The Bank now has a total square footage of 17,935.
In April 2003, the bank decided to change its name to Regent Bank, N.A. This name change would allow the bank to more efficiently expand into additional markets. The name Regent means 'a trustee or overseer' and certainly embodies the type of relationship that we hope to have with our clients.
Over the years, BC Lee developed a close friendship with Tulsa area banker Sean Kouplen and in the summer of 2007, the two began discussing Kouplen's potential purchase of Regent Bank. It was important to Lee and the current Board of Directors that any future owner of Regent Bank must maintain local operations, staffing and community support in the bank's hometown of Nowata, and Kouplen firmly agreed.
On April 1, 2008, Regent Capital Corporation, led by CEO Kouplen and Chairman Dow Hughes, purchased Regent Bank. Kouplen and Hughes worked together in the mid-1990's and have been close friends ever since. Their lifelong dream has been to own and build Oklahoma's top community bank and they are now on their way.
Regent Bank is now owned by over 65 shareholders from Nowata, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Bartlesville. These individuals are top business and community leaders and will work hard to ensure Regent Bank's future success. The bank is maintaining its Nowata headquarters and hopes to expand into metro markets soon. Regent Bank will embody the best in community and business banking.
Current directors include: Dow Hughes, Chairman, Sean Kouplen, President, Bob Willis, Darrel Fry, BC Lee, Bobby Nelson, Robert Zoellner, Chuck Patterson, Tony Young, Tom Wenrick, Dean Hughes and Garry Robinson. Sandy Moore serves as Secretary to the Board.
|
