Mabrey Bank Hosting 3rd Annual Toy Drive

Help Mabrey Bank deliver the joy of the holidays to all Oklahoma families.

During the first two weeks of December, Mabrey Bank will be hosting its annual Toy Drive to benefit families in need across the state this holiday season. There will be toy collections boxes stationed inside Mabrey Bank lobbies from Monday, December 1 through Friday, December 13, for new, unwrapped toys. The toys can be Each location will be donating these toys to a local organization or angel tree to ensure the gifts go to children inside of our communities.

At two of our branches, we will continue angel tree traditions that have existed for years. We will again be doing our Angel Tree in Wetumka with angels you can select off the tree in the lobby to purchase presents for. In Haskell, we will be collecting monetary donations to give to the Funds for Haskell’s Kids Inc. Angel Tree.

All other Mabrey locations will be collecting toys to give to the organizations listed below. For the lobby hours and addresses of your local Mabrey Bank branch, check out our locations page here.

Location – Benefitting Organization
Bixby (Main & North) – Bixby Outreach Center
Glenpool – Glenpool Christmas Shoppe
Haskell (Angel Tree) – Funds for Haskell’s Kids Inc.
Morris – Morris Methodist Church Angel Tree
Muskogee – Kelly B Todd
Oklahoma City – Positive Tomorrows
Okmulgee (Main & Drive) – Harlan Ford Toy Drive benefitting Okmulgee County DHS
Tulsa (BA, Jenks, Midtown, Yale) – Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS)
Weleetka – Big Five Head Start
Wetumka (Angel Tree)

Thank you in advance for your generosity and consideration of our toy drive.

You are likely clear on the concept of interest – you owe more than what you borrowed when paying back over a period of time. However, the topic of interest rates might be a little murkier. There are a lot of terms surrounding interest rates that include acronyms and financial jargon, which can be confusing.

In truth, interest rates are a critical component to many of the financial decisions that we make. Borrowing, saving and spending can all be influenced by the current rates. For this latest Banking 101 piece, we will tackle the most common terminology surrounding interest rates and simplify some of the terms you might see or hear on commercials, billboards or other advertisements.

Simple Interest vs. Compound Interest

These are two of the most common interest types, and there is a key difference between the two. Simple interest is an annual percentage of the amount owed, whereas compound interest accrues or builds over time. You often hear the term “compound interest” when referencing the interest someone can earn from a savings account.

So, let’s use a savings account as an example. If a savings account has $1,000 in it at an annual 5.0% simple interest rate, you will earn $50 in interest each year as long as your original $1,000 stays in your account. Over 10 years, that $1,000 investment will have earned you an extra $500.

However, compound interest builds upon itself over time. The interest you earn from the previous year will build upon next year’s total savings. While year one will be the same as the “simple interest” scenario, in year two, you will be earning interest on $1,050 instead of $1,000. After 10 years with a 5.0% compound interest rate, you will have totaled $1,628.89, more than $100 above the simple interest rate scenario.

APR vs. APY

Both of these acronyms, APR (Annual Percentage Rate) and APY (Annual Percentage Yield), are very common amongst banks, credit unions, mortgage companies and other financial institutions when advertising their rates. APR refers to the yearly interest rate that the borrower assumes on a loan or the rate you earn before compounding interest if you lend it.

You’ll often see APR used alongside credit cards, mortgages, car loans or personal loans.

Meanwhile, APY refers to the rate which your money grows in a year when factoring in compound interest. APY is most often used when highlighting savings accounts such as money market accounts or certificates of deposit (CDs).

Fixed Rate vs. Variable Rate

This terminology is fairly easy to explain in the context of a home loan.

A fixed interest rate loan is a loan where the rate remains constant during the entire term of the loan. So, if you get a 30-year fixed rate home mortgage, the interest rate will be the same in year 1 as it is in year 30, with no change in between.

A variable rate loan, on the other hand, fluctuates throughout the term of the loan based on how market rates change, and often correlates directly to US Treasury rates (more on that below). Having a variable interest rate on your home loan could result in a lower introductory rate but will increase in a growing rate environment or could decrease in a declining environment.

In certain situations, a loan may start off with a fixed rate but then convert to variable at some point in the future.

Prime Rate vs. Federal Funds Rate

Now that we have the basics of some common interest rate terminology down, let’s get a little more complex with the prime rate vs. the federal rate. Both rates are benchmark rates that financial institutions use to set their own interest rates.

The federal funds rate is set by the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) at their periodic meetings.   It’s based on a multitude of factors including inflation, employment indicators and the general state of the economy. The FOMC meets eight times a year to establish that rate with a primary goal of keeping the U.S. economy steady. Currently, this rate sits in a range of 3.75% to 4.00%. The Fed Funds rate is generally the rate banks borrow funds on an overnight basis, and it is often tied to the APYs offered on various money market, savings accounts and CDs.

You may have seen recently that the Fed Fundsrate was lowered by 0.25% in each of their September and October FOMC meetings.  These changes affect the next rate we will dive into – the prime rate.

The prime rate is often a starting point for Banks when setting the rate for its most creditworthy customers and is typically set at 3% above the Federal Funds rate.  There are numerous other indexes banks use in setting rates for small business loans, mortgages, credit card, auto and personal loans.  Some of these you may have heard of, including Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and US Treasury Note rates and the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR).

Wrapping Up

If you have made it this far, congratulations. You are likely armed with enough knowledge to be dangerous in a conversation when interest rates are brought up.

To learn more about interest rates and the rate you can receive from Mabrey Bank, visit any of our 15 full-service locations or give us a call at (888) 272-8866.

With the holiday season approaching, Mabrey Bank will again participate in and sponsor the Buy Bixby contest held by the Bixby Chamber of Commerce. Starting on November 1 and running through December 11, many local Bixby businesses, including both Mabrey Bank locations in Bixby, will be distributing Buy Bixby raffle tickets.

The prizes will be awarded on December 13, with two $1,000 prizes, one $2,000 prize and a $10,000 grand prize up for grabs. Here’s how you can earn tickets:

5 tickets – make a transaction (one per visit)
10 tickets – open a new checking or savings account
15 tickets – open a new CD
20 tickets – apply for a new loan

Last year, a winning ticket came from Mabrey Bank, and we would like to run that streak to two. Stop in to get your tickets starting Saturday, November 1.

For more information on Buy Bixby, click here.

Deposit accounts are foundational to banking. They allow consumers and businesses alike to spend, save, earn interest or be flexible with all three. Even better, deposit accounts are insured by the FDIC, meaning your money is safe and protected up to the legal limit.

In this Banking 101 post, we will walk you through the deposit accounts that we offer at Mabrey Bank and the advantages that each of them gives the customer. If you are interested in learning more or opening a deposit account, please stop by any of our 15 full-service locations across Oklahoma and speak to one of our expert bankers.

Previous Banking 101 articles:

• Credit Scores
• Credit & Debit Card Processing
• Spotting Scams

Traditional Savings Account
This is your classic savings account that you can open at almost any bank across the United States. At Mabrey, these have low minimums to open, low to no monthly service fees and free statements. These accounts give you plenty of flexibility to move money around as necessary. For those wanting to set aside money for a future goal or large purchase or just to build an emergency fund, a traditional savings account is a great place to start.

At Mabrey Bank, it requires just a $50 deposit to open a traditional savings account and as long as your balance remains more than $100, we waive all monthly service fees. Additionally, you earn interest daily on every dollar in your account if you balance remains at $100 or more.

Money Market Account
A Money Market account, or MMA for short, is for customers with larger balances and more limited transactional needs. Like a traditional savings account, it requires a $50 deposit to open a Money Market account, but that is where the similarities end.

While you sacrifice some flexibility putting funds into an MMA, you can reap the rewards. At Mabrey, your savings in an MMA will earn a higher interest rate than funds in a Traditional Savings Account. You also have limited mobility with funds in your MMA, while its not to be used for daily spending, you can access your money in a pinch if necessary.

Certificates of Deposit (CDs) & CDARS
A Certificate of Deposit (CD) gives savers the highest earning potential of any deposit account. If you are unfamiliar with a CD, it is a time-based deposit account that offers steady, stable growth. As the customer, you and the bank enter into an agreement for you to leave a set amount of money in the bank for a specific time. At Mabrey that can be any amount over $2,000 for a period ranging from a few weeks to years.

That money has a fixed interest rate and specific date of withdrawal, known as the maturity date. These interest rates are higher than you could get for funds in a traditional savings account or MMA. However, these don’t offer any flexibility of movement during the CD term.

One variation of a CD is CDARS, or Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service. This allows a customer to deposit more than $250,000, the maximum amount for FDIC coverage, and yet keep every dollar insured. Mabrey Bank divides those funds amongst other banks to keep insurance on the full amount while you get the convenience of dealing with only one bank and one statement.

Personal Checking Account
Don’t forget about a checking account as a deposit account. While not used for saving, most customers have money deposited into their checking accounts each month for daily use. While checking accounts don’t offer much in terms of interest, they are the most flexible account a bank can offer as far as transactions, deposits, transfers, etc. If it is a traditional checking account you have access to these funds at any time, any day.

At Mabrey Bank, we want to be sure our customers and businesses have access to a deposit account that fits their needs, both for short-term needs and long-term goals. Get in touch with us by calling our in-house Customer Service Team at (888) 272-8866 or stop by a branch and speak to a banker to learn more.

Powering the energy sector requires industry expertise, strategic financial solutions, and strong partnerships.  With recent changes to the Energy Lending industry, we caught up with C.T. Young, our Energy Lending Manager, to discuss the updates and why Mabrey Bank is excelling in providing energy-specific products and services.

Why do community and regional banks, like Mabrey, make for strong financial partners of energy-focused businesses?

The energy lending landscape has undergone a seismic shift over the past five years. Over that time, many large national banks scaled back their energy portfolios, which could have spelled trouble for the industry. What ensued was the largest transfer of market opportunity in energy banking history, leading to community and regional banks becoming the backbone of financing for energy companies in America.

While national banks focused mainly on commodity prices, at Mabrey, we have been able to develop strong relationships thanks to our local market knowledge and deep understanding of the operational nuances that make one producer different from another.

Energy is a capital intensive and cyclical industry. Bankers like myself, who’ve lived through multiple commodity cycles, understand that a company’s performance during the downturn matters more than their performance at the peak. At Mabrey, we know how to structure facilities that work through the valleys, not just the mountaintops.

What separates Mabrey Bank as a leading partner for energy businesses?

Ultimately, speed matters in the energy sector. When an independent producer finds a drilling opportunity or acquisition target, they need a financing decision in weeks, not months. Mabrey Bank can move faster because our decision-makers are local, not spread out across markets.

For example, I recently closed a $12 million borrowing base facility in 25 days. A less local partner may have taken up to 90 days to finance that loan. Speed isn’t just a convenience for our energy partners, but it truly gives them a competitive advantage.

When a borrower calls outside of business hours with a question about their borrowing base, I want them to know they’ll reach me directly. Let’s say commodity prices plunge 15%. My clients and I are already having conversations about solutions so that problems don’t turn into crises.

How are current energy clients thriving in their partnership with Mabrey?

I know I probably sound like a broken record, but the speed of a financing decision allows our partners to thrive. We average 45 days on a decision where the industry average is 75 days. Not only can we make these decisions quickly, but we offer flexible financing options that we can cater to your unique situation. It can’t be a one-size-fits-all strategy when it comes to a loan.

Finally, our expertise really sets us apart. For me personally, I have spent the majority of my career focused on energy lending. As the head of our energy lending division, I’ve spent the last decade building relationships with independent producers across the region, familiarizing myself with the business model for energy corporations to understand when there are strategic opportunities to grow. Mabrey Bank is leaning into energy banking, and it’s become a priority for us bankwide.

What would you tell an energy business that is not currently banking with Mabrey but is looking for a better financial partnership?

The future of energy banking isn’t about balance sheets, it’s about relationships and expertise. If you’re an independent producer still banking with an institution that views energy as a “legacy sector,” you’re leaving money on the table. The banks having success in today’s landscape are those that see opportunity where others see risk. Mabrey Bank is one of those that sees opportunity.

At the end of the day, we’re not just lending money. We’re partnering with the companies that power America.

If you are looking for a new financial partner, I’d love to connect and tell you more about how Mabrey Bank can help you take the next step.

OKMULGEE, Okla. – Mabrey Bank is proud to announce two internal promotions that further solidify the bank’s footprint in Okmulgee and the surrounding communities of East Central Oklahoma.

Tim Davis, who has spent the last 39 years of his banking career in Morris, has been promoted to East Central Director of Lending, SVP. While continuing to manage his team in Morris, Tim will also oversee Mabrey Bank’s market presidents and lending teams in Haskell, Muskogee, Weleetka and Wetumka.

In Okmulgee, Joe Berryhill has been promoted to Market President, SVP. Joe has served the Okmulgee community for the last seven years as a Commercial Lending Officer for Mabrey Bank and will now lead the team of lenders in that market.

“Both Tim and Joe are fixtures in their respective communities and have a history of developing long-lasting partnerships with customers and businesses,” said Mabrey Bank, East Central OK Regional President, SVP, Mark Mabrey. “We are excited for the impact that each will have in these new positions as we continue to showcase the Mabrey Bank difference.” Based out of Okmulgee as the Regional President, Mark Mabrey oversees all of Mabrey Bank’s teams and operations throughout the East Central region, which includes seven of Mabrey’s 15 locations.

Most Americans experience attempted scams every week – calls from unrecognized numbers, texts pretending to be someone else, emails urging that you are just one link-click away from a surprise gift. It’s so commonplace that many of us are almost desensitized to them. However, that mentality is what can lower our guard and actually make us susceptible to more clever fraud tactics.

In the next article in our Banking 101 series, we help you recognize common and uncommon scam ploys and give you tips on what to do (and not do) when faced with fraud. If you would like to read any of our previous Banking 101 articles, click below.

• Credit and Debit Card Processing
• Credit Scores

Preying on Panic
Creating panic or urgency can spur you to act on a scam before your common sense can prevail. Receiving a text or email with a message like “Your account has been locked” or “This is your final warning” scares you just enough to do something rash, like click on link that you shouldn’t. This false sense of urgency should immediately throw up a red flag about the legitimacy of the claim.

If you are concerned that the warning could be true, you can check by calling the business the message claims to be from and verifying the accuracy.

Spoofing the System
It is becoming more common for scammers to make it look like they are calling from a legitimate place of business using Caller ID. This is called “spoofing” and even Mabrey Bank hasn’t been immune to this practice. Scammers have called our customers before with “Mabrey Bank” pulling up on the Caller ID. If this does occur, you can always say, “I will call you back using the number on your website.” Any legitimate service representative for a business will understand and allow you to do so without complaint.

Keep in mind that Mabrey Bank will not call you and ask for personal information.

Goodbye Grammar
Official communication from organizations, like the one you are reading now, are often written or typed by communications professionals. At the very least, they are penned by those who take pride in their work and are not prone to sloppy or bad grammar.

If you notice an email or text containing several misspellings or punctuation errors, it is a strong red flag for a scam. Also, be sure to check out the email address its coming from. Often those can be slightly misspelled addresses.

A Sensitive Subject
Another warning for a scam is the ask for sensitive information. If someone on the phone is requesting your date of birth, social security number, account or PIN numbers, etc., that could be a clue for illegitimacy.

Remember, if you are unsure, you can always call back at a number you trust.

Heed Your Hunch
Lastly, always trust your gut. If something feels off to you about a text, email, phone call, voicemail, or any other message, it likely is fraudulent. Take a pause before acting and verify if the message is real or a scam. It usually takes less than 60 seconds to verify a request. It will take much longer than that to recover lost funds or personal information.

Remember, when in doubt, reach out. Mabrey Bank customer service representatives are here to help you keep your money and information safe and secure. If you ever have a question, we can be reached during business hours at (888) 272-8866.

Mabrey Bank is hosting its 5^th Annual School Supply Drive at all Mabrey locations from Monday, July 14 through Friday, July 25. As it has been in past years, the supplies collected at each branch will benefit a school or organization within that community, allowing our team members and customers to directly impact local students and teachers.

Each year, Mabrey Bank has been able to collect thousands of school supplies to donate across Oklahoma as our team seeks to live out the mission of the bank which calls us to “improve the communities we serve.” It’s a mission that the Mabrey family and bank team members have been following for more than 100 years.

Supplies can be dropped off inside any Mabrey Bank branch during normal business hours. At each location, we will have a school supply drop box conveniently located in the lobby. While all types of school supplies are appreciated and accepted, customers can check in with their local branch to see if any specific supplies might be useful for that community.

See below which organization or school that each Mabrey Bank location will be donating to through our 2025 School Supply Drive.

As a consumer, using a credit or debit card to buy an item at the store or a tank of gas might seem like a simple transaction. On the other side of the register, it’s a different story. For businesses that process card transactions, reliability, efficiency and affordability are all paramount to the bottom line. The next installment in our Banking 101 series on financial basics covers Credit & Debit Card Processing, also known as “Merchant Services,” and what you need to know.

Who plays a role in a card transaction?

Obviously, you have the cardholder and the merchant, plus each of their banks, which we will call the “issuing bank” (belonging to the cardholder) and the “merchant bank” (belonging to the merchant). The issuing bank is responsible for authorizing the transaction and for sending funds to the merchant bank if the transaction is approved. The issuing bank will then bill the cardholder monthly for their credit card purchases. Meanwhile, the merchant bank holds the account where funds are deposited following a purchase.

Then, you have the middleman – the payment processor. This can be a separate party or sometimes will be the merchant bank. Regardless, the payment processor ensures the funds are transferred from the issuing bank to the merchant bank. Often, the payment processor will offer the hardware or software used to accept cards, such as tap-to-pay terminals or other card-reading devices.

How does card processing work?

There are two stages to credit and debit card processing – authorization and settlement. If a debit card is used, both authorization and settlement happen in seconds with the money coming out of your checking account. If a credit card is used for payment, the account information is routed from the merchant bank by the payment processor to the issuing bank for approval. The issuing bank will either confirm or deny the transaction and the payment processor will deliver that back to the merchant bank and to the card reader.

Unlike the near instant settlement for a debit card, a credit card settlement can take 1-3 business days. This is the process of actually moving the funds from the issuing bank to the merchant bank. Typically, businesses send batches of transactions to their payment processor at a regularly scheduled time, like the close of a business day. The payment processor and the card networks (Visa, MasterCard, etc.) will work to ensure the funds are deposited into the correct account.

Why is card processing important?

To accept card payments, a merchant will need hardware and software, both of which could be provided by the payment processor. Regardless of whether it’s an entire point-of-sale system or just a simple card reader, these devices collect and send card data to the payment processor. In addition, a software app is often needed for processing. These programs can include features such as inventory management, reporting, analytics and the ability to send customers digital receipts.

Card processing also comes at a cost for the merchant, so it is important to find a merchant bank and payment processor that keeps processing fees affordable. Mabrey Bank partners with Basys, a payment processor, to ensure our merchant clients are not paying more than necessary for processing fees. Not all payment processors are created equal. For more information on how Basys securely handles your funds, click here.

If you would like to learn more about how Mabrey can help your business save money on your card processing fees, click here.

This open letter was originally published in Mabrey Bank’s Century of Service brochure.

In 2024, we celebrated Mabrey Bank’s centennial, a milestone that speaks to our longevity and ability of our organization to continually evolve. As I reflect on this important year in the bank’s history, I am as confident as ever in the direction and future success of Mabrey Bank and its mission.

Few businesses last 100 years, and our stability is a testament to the generations of Mabrey team members who have come before us, the dedication of our current team and the loyalty and support of our customers. We are incredibly proud of the community impact that Mabrey Bank has had over the last century and look forward to that continuing in 2025 and beyond.

The economy during the last year provided some challenges for the banking industry as a whole. Driven by a strong work ethic and the expertise of our team, we overcame those obstacles, and we expect 2025 to be an excellent year for the bank and our customers.

With the inclusion of specialty products, such as new Mortgage Lending options and Agricultural & Recreation Land Loans, to the opening of a new, exclusive Private Bank office in Tulsa in 2024, Mabrey Bank continues to diversify and expand on the best-in-class offerings and experiences we provide for our customers.

We remain firmly focused on unparalleled customer service and a devotion to our customers and communities.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you now or in the future.

– Scott Mabrey, Chief Executive Officer