Oklahoma City, Okla., April 24, 2022--Community banks play a significant role in small and large cities throughout the country. The very fabric of local communities is impacted at all levels through a community bank’s products and services but also through the bank’s involvement in the local area itself.

How community banks strengthen the community

The money managed by a local bank is reinvested into that community through loans and other financial services for area individuals, families, and small businesses.

“When you maintain a checking, savings, or other type of account with a community bank, you increase the community bank’s ability to offer small business loans and mortgages with better terms to your neighbors and friends,” said Jason Porter, Vice President/Retail Banking Operations with Gateway First Bank. “Banking local helps local businesses grow and thrive, whether it is an established company or a new startup. When clients bank local, they are supporting and strengthening their local community.”

Local banks serve the community at large

Many local banks are also involved in community service efforts, which can include charitable donations, sponsoring local organizations and events, volunteerism, and offering personal financial education classes.

“Because we are physically in the community, our team can easily build relationships with business customers to better understand local factors, reputation and past history with the bank. These relationships play a large role in ensuring that not just hard numbers and scores, which may or may not tell the full story of your business plan, are considered when deciding to approve a loan. At a community bank like Gateway, you can expect to work with familiar faces who know you and what is important to you, your family and your business,” said Porter.

The community bank model is successful in strengthening the community, as they are based in your local area where the team is made up of your neighbors and family.

Gateway First Bank’s community impact

In May of 2019, Gateway Mortgage Group merged with a 100-year-old community bank to create Gateway First Bank. The five banking centers in western Oklahoma are cornerstone businesses in those communities. Gateway recently opened its first Oklahoma City banking center located at 6303 Waterford Boulevard, Suite 100.

In addition to offering retail banking services, the new location is also home to Gateway’s Oklahoma City commercial banking team. The team, led by Charlie Crouse, Commercial Banking Executive, and Jeb Cook, Market President, offers a portfolio of commercial lending, treasury management, business checking, and private banking services.

Gateway has a strong mortgage presence in Oklahoma City," said Scott Gesell, CEO of Gateway. "We merged a successful nationwide mortgage company with an Oklahoma community bank and are expanding access to banking services across Oklahoma."

Member FDIC

This article was originally published in The Oklahoman newspaper.

About Gateway First Bank 

Gateway First Bank is a leading financial institution that provides banking and mortgage services for consumers and commercial customers. Headquartered in Jenks, Oklahoma, Gateway is a $1.9 billion asset sized bank with a strong mortgage operation.  Gateway is one of the largest banking and mortgage operations in the United States with six bank branches in Oklahoma, over 160 mortgage centers in 42 states, and almost 1,600 employees.  Learn more at www.GatewayFirst.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender (NMLS 7233)

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