BancFirst announces new bank president

The BancFirst Board of Directors has announced the promotion of Ken Starks, to Regional Executive, Northeast Region and of Jerry Franklin to President, BancFirst Stillwater.

Starks, a native of Stillwater, began his banking career in 1979. He has served as the President of BancFirst Stillwater since 1988. In his new role as Regional Executive, Northeast Region, Starks will supervise the administration of banks in seven BancFirst communities in the Northeast region of Oklahoma. He will continue to live and office in Stillwater. Starks received his Masters degree from Oklahoma State University and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking.

Starks is active in the Stillwater community and economic development initiatives and has served on numerous boards and committees. His involvement includes having served as chair of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees and as the 2000 Campaign Chair for the Stillwater United Way. Other boards Starks has served include the Stillwater Industrial Foundation, the Stillwater Medical Center Foundation, the Stillwater Education Foundation, and the Stillwater Frontier Rotary Club. Starks is a graduate of Leadership Stillwater and Leadership Oklahoma.

Regarding the change in management, Starks commented, "This is a great opportunity and challenge within the BancFirst organization that I look forward to. We are fortunate to have the luxury of a long time senior officer in Jerry Franklin, who is well known to our customer base, to assume leadership of the bank. This should result in a smooth transition for our customers and our employees."

Franklin began his banking career in Tulsa in 1976 and came to BancFirst Stillwater in 1987 where he has served as Executive Vice President and Senior Loan Officer and as a member of the management team. In his new role, Franklin will serve as President of BancFirst Stillwater which currently has $195 million in assets and seventy employees in its three banking facilities.

He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking, and numerous industry specific educational programs.

Franklin is currently involved in many aspects of civic and economic development in Stillwater.

He serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee and past Chair of the Board of the Stillwater Medical Center, President of the Meridian Technology Center Board of Education, Executive Committee Member and Board Member of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, and Board Member of the Stillwater Regional Airport Authority.

Franklin is also a member of the Stillwater Home Builders Association and a graduate of Leadership Stillwater.

Franklin thanked Ken Starks and BancFirst for this career opportunity.

He stated he is looking forward to helping guide the bank in a time where managing change will be the key to success, he also wants to further the BancFirst tradition of developing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers and our community.

With assets of more than $3.4 billion, BancFirst is Oklahoma’s largest state-chartered bank. BancFirst has more than 100 locations in 45 communities across the state.

BancFirst is listed on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol BANF.