Bank Of Oklahoma Invests $500,000 In East Tulsa Entrepreneurship Center

TULSA, Okla., Oct. 13, 2026 —Bank of Oklahoma donated $500,000 to Eastside Rise, an emerging nonprofit at Tulsa Community Foundation, to help build the Bank of Oklahoma Eastside Center for Entrepreneurship, which will offer affordable workspace and business assistance to local entrepreneurs.

The center will occupy space within Plaza Santa Cecilia in Tulsa's Global District, a vibrant area known for its diverse cultures and strong community of small businesses and entrepreneurs.

While immigrant entrepreneurs are helping drive small business growth in East Tulsa, access to business support can be difficult to navigate when services are spread across multiple organizations. The center will bring those services together in one location.

“Bank of Oklahoma is proud to invest in a resource designed to remove the barriers that too often sit between a good idea and a thriving business. We're excited about the opportunities this program will create as people turn ideas into growth, helping build a stronger and more vibrant community for years to come,” said Stacy Kymes, president and CEO of BOK Financial.

The donation will support the second phase of construction, expected to begin in early 2027. Eastside Rise will operate the center and aims to serve at least 250 entrepreneurs in its first year, with a focus on residents from underserved communities.

“The diversity of East Tulsa is one of its greatest strengths, and you can see that reflected in the entrepreneurs who serve this community every day,” said Jhoanna Astudillo, Hispanic segment lead for BOK Financial. “Many of these business owners have taken a chance on an idea and worked tirelessly to build something of their own. We're proud to support a center that will help them grow the businesses they've worked so hard to create.”

Planned programming partners include Avanzando Juntos and the Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Training will cover business registration, taxes and permits, as well as bookkeeping, marketing and digital skills. Tax professionals and business and legal consultants will provide technical assistance and mentorship.

About Bank of Oklahoma

For more than a century, Bank of Oklahoma has been a financial services partner for consumers, businesses and wealth clients alike. We bring the kind of financial insight and resources you’d expect from a national institution — but we deliver it with the care, clarity, and consistency of a neighbor who knows your name and understands your goals.