Expert Intel: The New Age of Digital Banking

This piece is a continuation of our Expert Intel series where Mabrey Bank financial experts are asked specifically about one of their areas of experience. In this Q&A we talk to Director of Digital Banking, Laura Zigler, about the advancements happening in digital banking and what sets Mabrey Bank apart from other financial institutions in the digital space.

To see the previous installment in our Expert Intel series, click the link below.
Building Long-Time Client Partnerships – John Pixley

What is your role at Mabrey Bank and your area of expertise?

As Director of Digital Banking, SVP, at Mabrey Bank, I lead the strategy, development, and delivery of our digital and treasury solutions to consumer and commercial clients. My team’s focus is on creating seamless, secure and efficient banking experiences that help our customers manage cash flow, optimize operations and access their financial information anytime, anywhere. By working with our team at Mabrey to ensure our solutions evolve with client needs, we maintain a high level of service and reliability that our customers have come to expect.

What trends or changes are you currently seeing in this new age of digital banking?

It’s no secret that digital banking is quickly shifting toward fully integrated, real-time financial experiences. Clients expect instant access to funds, real-time payments and consolidation across multiple accounts and platforms. We now live in a self-service world that extends into banking. Ultimately, it’s our job to provide a smarter, faster and more personalized banking experience.

What is a common misconception you often see from customers or businesses when adopting digital banking practices?

A misconception I often hear is that digital banking replaces the need for a personal relationship with your bank. The most successful outcomes happen when the latest technology and relationship banking work together. Digital tools exist to enhance efficiency and visibility, but having a trusted relationship officer to help implement solutions and provide guidance is just as important.

What should be front of mind for clients right now in digital banking?

Security and efficiency should be top priorities. Fraud is more rampant now than ever before. Leveraging available tools such as multi-factor authentication, user entitlements, dual-control processes and fraud monitoring will help clients protect their accounts. At the same time, they should evaluate how digital solutions can streamline operations. The use of automated payments, sweeps, remote deposit capture, or other integrated treasury products can increase efficiency. With intentionality and scalability, these solutions will grow alongside their business and adapt to future needs.

How does Mabrey Bank’s approach to digital banking differ from other financial institutions?

Mabrey Bank takes a relationship-first approach to digital banking. While many institutions focus solely on implementing technology, we focus on how that technology serves our customers. We tailor our solutions to fit each client’s unique needs and back them up with local decision-making and responsive support. The goal is to provide digital tools that deliver real value by improving efficiency, visibility and overall financial management. This personalized approach, combined with our modern capabilities, truly sets Mabrey Bank apart.

How do you utilize Mabrey Bank’s mission and core values when talking to clients about digital banking opportunities?

Our mission and core values are central to building every client partnership. Professionalism and integrity guide how we recommend and implement solutions with transparency and trust. Reliability and high performance are reflected in the systems and services we deliver, while teamwork ensures we bring the right expertise to each client relationship. Stewardship of our community resources reminds us that our role goes beyond banking. We help businesses and individuals succeed and, in turn, strengthen the communities we serve. These values shape not only what we offer, but how we deliver it.

What should clients be preparing for in the next 5 years within the digital banking space?

Over the next five years, clients should prepare for increased automation, deeper system integration and continued growth in real-time payments. Businesses will also see tighter integration between banking platforms and their internal systems, such as accounting and ERP systems. Additionally, fraud prevention is constantly evolving, requiring ongoing attention and adaptation. Clients who proactively adopt and optimize digital solutions now will be best positioned to operate more efficiently and competitively in the future.

Mabrey Bank is pleased to announce the hire of Aubry Walters as the Director of International Services, VP, leading its International Banking division. Aubry joins Mabrey with over 17 years of banking experience in Tulsa, specifically focused on international trade finance and foreign exchange services, commercial lending and underwriting.

“We are thrilled to add Aubry Walters to our Mabrey team,” said Chief Banking Officer, Kevin Short. “Aubry will continue our operational expertise in international trade finance solutions for our clients, including documentary collections, commercial and stand-by letters of credit, currency and foreign exchange products.

After previous stops at Bank of Oklahoma, Firstar Bank and Arvest Bank, Walters brings comprehensive expertise to help guide businesses through the complexities of international trade finance. In 2014, Walters earned her Certified Documentary Credit Specialist designation and has worked for manufacturing companies both in the U.S. and abroad, assisting and advising clients with mitigating contract and payment risks.

“I’m grateful to have an opportunity to work with so many talented bankers at Mabrey who genuinely care about exceeding our customers’ expectations,” said Walters. “This team is truly committed to serving clients in our local community with integrity and professionalism to help them achieve their goals.”

Walters is a Leadership Tulsa graduate, Class 68, and is the Vice President/President-Elect of the Tulsa chapter of Executive Women International as well as a Board Member for Youth Services of Tulsa. Her work with Make-A-Wish Oklahoma earned Walters the Dan Potter Community Volunteer of the Year award, and she is currently serving as the Co-Chair of their 21^st Annual golf tournament fundraiser.

This is the first piece in a new series titled “Expert Intel” where Mabrey Bank financial experts are asked specifically about one of their areas of experience.

Our first Q&A is with our President, John Pixley, who, over his 40+ year banking career, is an expert in developing long-lasting, generational relationships with his clients. Mabrey Bank is known for its partnerships with both consumers and businesses, and John can directly attest to Mabrey’s core philosophy when building these connections.

Q: What is your role at Mabrey Bank and what are the responsibilities that come with it?
John: That’s an interesting question, and one I’ve been asked many times. I am the President of Mabrey Bank, with a focus on our lending divisions. I spend my time serving our teammates and clients the best I can.

Q: How is building a client relationship different (or the same) now versus 20 years ago?
John: The most effective relationships are those that are authentic and genuine. In order to achieve an authentic relationship with a client, you must commit to a focused effort to spend time with that customer. Trust is a huge part of client relations, and I think that’s especially true today. I believe the key to a client relationship is taking the necessary time to develop that trust. With our busy lives, we must have an organized approach in relationship building.

Q: What is a common misconception you often see when it comes to partnership building between a business and its clientele?
John: Our society has turned to texting and emailing as the normal process of communication. However, nothing replaces relationship building like being present. Take the time to get in front of clients – go to their office and make arrangements for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Welcome them into your place of work. Introduce them to your teammates. Spend authentic time with customers and don’t rely on texts and emails to drive partnership-building.

Q: What should be front of mind for businesses when it comes to attracting clients?
John: Trust, accessibility, a high level of service and communicating in a manner that indicates you have true knowledge and authority to serve them well.

Q: How does Mabrey Bank’s approach in relationship building differ than other financial institutions?
John: Mabrey Bank has the size and resources to be very relevant to the customers we serve in terms of products and services. But as a community bank, we remain nimble, quick to deliver and know our clients on a first-name basis. Our teammates are well-versed in the commitment to EXCEED and that passion permeates throughout our teams and branches.

Q: How do you utilize Mabrey Bank’s mission and core values when building relationships?
John: I’ve lived in Tulsa for 40 years and have an affection for our city and state. My approach to banking is often reflective of experiences I have enjoyed in my life – treat and serve others in a manner in which you would like to be treated. It’s rewarding for me when our teams at Mabrey Bank empower our customers to succeed and have a positive impact on our communities and families where we work and live. We are committed to being a reliable bank to serve with integrity and professionalism in an authentic fashion.

Mabrey Bank is excited to offer an added, no-cost digital benefit to consumer and business customers who utilize QuickBooks or Quicken, called “Direct Connect.” Through our digital banking platform, you are able to sync your Mabrey account to your QuickBooks or Quicken account to create two-way connectivity between platforms.

Once a connection is established, Mabrey Bank customers can access account information inside of Quicken or QuickBooks for your accounts at Mabrey Bank. With no manual entry of transactions, Direct Connect will streamline your reconciliation with auto-reconciliation and elimination of the possibility of duplicate transactions.

To utilize Direct Connect, follow the instructions below, or refer to the correct user guide for your software and operating system.

Mac Users

• QuickBooks

• Quicken

PC Users

• QuickBooks

• Quicken

Requesting a Connection

To begin Direct Connect, request the connection from your Quicken or QuickBooks software from your desktop computer.

• Locate the “Banking” menu inside of QuickBooks or the “Tools” menu inside of Quicken and search “Mabrey Bank.”

• Ensure you have your Mabrey Bank Customer ID and PIN/password on hand.

• Follow the prompts and select “Direct Connect” when prompted.

Establishing a Connection

To manage Direct Connect, use a desktop computer to access your Mabrey Bank account here after you have requested a connection.

• Login to your Mabrey Bank account

• Go to “My Profile” (bottom left of browser window)

• Select “Personal Settings > “Security”

• Select “Direct Connect” > “Manage”

You should see your requested Direct Connect from your QuickBooks or Quicken as an option to select.

If you need any assistance setting up Direct Connect. Reach out to our team at treasury@mabreybank.com. We would be happy to help!

Mabrey Bank is proud to announce that Courtney Neal, Private Bank Officer, VP, has been recognized by Oklahoma Magazine as a 40 Under 40 honoree for 2026. Since joining Mabrey Bank in 2015, Neal has proven to be a rising star in the Private Banking industry, managing a strong portfolio while building lasting partnerships with her clients.

“Courtney is the kind of leader every team hopes for and few are lucky enough to have,” said Mabrey’s Director of Private Banking, Heather Van Hooser. “She’s smart, driven, loyal and kind. With a unique ability to juggle it all, career, motherhood, and community, Courtney truly is a rising star in Oklahoma banking.”

Raised in Glenpool, Oklahoma, Courtney spends her time investing back into her hometown through her work as a Board of Education Member with Glenpool Public Schools and as a Treasurer with Glenpool Youth Baseball and Football. She is a mother of four children and still has time to be an active volunteer throughout the Tulsa area, representing Mabrey Bank through opportunities with the United Way, The Demand Project, Life Senior Services and other organizations.

“Being a part of Mabrey’s Private Bank team has been the greatest blessing of my career,” said Neal. “Heather and our leadership team cultivate an environment that leans into our core values and allows us to give back to our communities and our clients. I love finding creative solutions to meet a customer’s financial needs while getting to know them on a personal level. I’m incredibly grateful that Oklahoma Magazine provides an opportunity to showcase what the next generation of bankers and young professionals are doing across the state.”

As a recently selected participant of the Oklahoma Bankers Association’s Emerging Leaders Academy, Courtney is further honing her leadership skills alongside the brightest bankers in Oklahoma. The full 40 Under 40 list is published in Oklahoma Magazine’s April issue and can be found online here.

To Our Current and Future Mabrey Bank Customers,

In 2025, the Mabrey Bank team did an outstanding job serving our customers and communities. Our strong financial performance and continued organizational success is a direct result of their commitment and hard work. I am grateful for the job our team members do every day. They are our greatest asset and the foundation of everything we do.

I am equally appreciative of the trust placed in us by our business and personal banking customers across our footprint. Combined with the experience and dedication of our bankers, those relationships led to record loan growth in 2025, a strong indication that our clients are thriving.

Providing convenient, secure and innovative banking solutions remains our top priority. Over the past year, we enhanced several of our digital banking services and completed a significant upgrade to our core banking system. Not only did it require collaboration across the entire organization, but it has improved both our internal efficiency and the overall experience we provide to our customers.

Our commitment extends beyond banking. Through the generosity of our team members and the stewardship of the bank, we continue to make a meaningful impact in our communities. Our annual United Way campaign, non-profit donations, partner sponsorships and thousands of volunteer hours reflect the mission and core values that define Mabrey Bank.

As we enter 2026, our focus remains on steady, stable growth. It’s an approach that allows Mabrey Bank to invest in new products and technology, provide exceptional service and continue giving back to the communities we are proud to call home.

We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and look forward to supporting your financial needs now and in the years ahead.

Sincerely,
Scott Mabrey
Chief Executive Officer
Mabrey Bank

Fraud attempts are increasing nationwide, and we want you to be informed so you can protect yourself from financial scams. Please read this carefully to see current fraud trends and ways you can be sure your money and information stay secure.

Remember – it’s not IF, it’s WHEN you’ll be the target of fraud.

AI Takeover Attacks

We are currently seeing a sharp rise in AI-driven account takeover fraud. These are coordinated efforts aimed at fooling you into revealing personal information. Below are ploys by scammers we commonly see during these attacks.

• Customers receive a spoofed call from caller ID labeled “Mabrey Bank.”

• Customers are directed to a fraudulent website that asks for their account credentials.

• Once entered, the credentials are accessible by the scammers.

• Criminals log in, change contact information and seize full control of the account within minutes.

Red Flags of Fraud

?Asking for User ID, Card No., Social Security No. or Date of Birth

?Wanting to keep you on the phone

?Urgency to make a purchase or take a financial action

?Not to share the details of a conversation with your banker

?Unexpected checks in the mail

?Asking for the purchase of a gift card or cryptocurrency

Final Word on Fraud

Our goal is to keep you safe from fraudulent activity. We will never call you and ask for your login credentials or account information. If you are suspicious of a phone call, we would always encourage you to end the call and call us back at (888) 272-8866. We want you to have peace of mind!

If you have any questions, please give us a call or send an email to customerservice@mabreybank.com.

These business fraud prevention tips are courtesy of our partners at EPCOR (Electronic Payments Core of Knowledge). For a printable version of these tips, click here.

Small businesses assume scammers will only target the big corporates, but fraud losses have proven that scammers will target any size business. Businesses of all sizes need to stay vigilant when it comes to fraud. Really, it is the smaller businesses that need to be more alert as one third of these businesses experience at least one fraud attempt annually. Putting effective fraud prevention measures in place and proper employee education are crucial for any size business to combat fraud.

Education and vigilance are where fraud prevention begins. Businesses should understand the various types of scams and associated characteristics and what red flags they should be looking for. Scammer tricks change and evolve daily but there are some common techniques that are used numerous times. A couple of things that are used time and again is receiving an urgent message prompting your business to respond immediately. If you are receiving this type of message from someone you believe is a manager, supervisor or CEO, remember; a sense of authority can be falsely created by using convincing language or fake logos.

Take a step back and assess the situation before acting on the request. Ask yourself:

1. Is this a person who normally sends these requests?
2. Is the dollar amount within the normal range for this type of request?
3. Is the request during a time that is normally utilized for such request?
4. Can you use an alternate phone number (not one within the request) to call the person and verify the request?
5. Does the written request have spelling errors?

Ways to prevent payments fraud in your business:

1. Always use invoice numbers. This is beneficial to your accounts payable and your suppliers. Maybe follow
a system that differentiates your business from other businesses (i.e. use leading zeros, use upper or lower case letters or add/remove spaces).
2. Automate any manual processes you have in place as this will cut down on human error.
3. Financial institutions rarely match the business name with the account number used. Your accounts payable should ensure they have measures in place to verify account names to numbers.
4. Ensure any accounts payable interface has security measures to mitigate digital threats.
5. New supplier or one time supplier onboarding should require an approval process. It’s important accounts payable be involved in the approval process of a new supplier and to have real-time access to supplier data. Doing this tightens up the process and the loading of fictitious suppliers can be prevented.
6. Have effective internal controls in accounts payable to ensure segregation of duties. This ensures that different people are responsible for completing components of tasks. No single individual should have the responsibility of completing an entire task. Segregation of duties allows your business to identify most errors before a payment is made.
7. Segregation of duties is one of the most effective ways to manage your business risk associated with internal fraud.

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.