For Shandy Belford, President of Arvest Bank – Central Oklahoma, Leadership is Rooted in Relationships, Trust and Creating Opportunities for Others.
Long before Shandy Belford became president of Arvest Bank – Central Oklahoma, she was learning business lessons from her family’s grocery store. She watched her family know their customers, work hard, keep their word and treat people well. Banking may be a very different industry, but Belford believes the fundamentals of a successful business remain much the same. “Build relationships, earn trust and genuinely care about the people you serve,” she says.
That philosophy continues to shape her leadership at Arvest, a full-service financial institution with more than $28 billion in assets. Since 1986, Arvest has served individuals, families and businesses across Central Oklahoma through services ranging from everyday banking and personal loans to commercial lending and private wealth strategies.
For Belford, however, banking is ultimately personal. Customer relationships often span years and multiple stages of life. A person may begin by financing a first home, then later return to start a business, expand an existing company, or plan for retirement. What matters, Belford says, is knowing there is a real person on the other end of the relationship who understands the customer’s goals.
That same philosophy extends into the community. Arvest associates serve on nonprofit boards, volunteer with local organizations, coach teams and support causes throughout the region. The bank and the Arvest Foundation also invest in nonprofits addressing needs across the communities they serve. “We don’t simply do business in Central Oklahoma. We live here, raise our families here and have a vested interest in its success,” Belford says.
She sees the bank’s broader economic role in much the same way. Helping a family purchase a home, providing capital for a business expansion or helping an entrepreneur get started can create an impact well beyond a single financial transaction.
When Belford stepped into the role of president, she inherited an established organization with a strong foundation. Her challenge was not to reinvent it, but to determine where change could create opportunity without losing the strengths that already existed.
She began by listening to associates, customers and community members, then focused on building the right team and creating a clear direction for the organization. “I believe people do their best work when they understand the vision, know what is expected of them and are trusted to execute,” she says.
Developing people is also central to Belford’s view of leadership. Women throughout Arvest serve as bankers, lenders, financial advisors, branch leaders, operations professionals and executives. Belford credits leaders who challenged her and gave her opportunities before she necessarily felt ready, and she wants to create those same opportunities for others.
Her advice to women pursuing leadership is simple: do not wait until you feel completely prepared. “Some of the best opportunities in my career were the ones that stretched me beyond what I already knew I could do,” she says.
She also encourages women to use their voices, ask questions and help create opportunities for those coming behind them.
Looking ahead, Belford wants Arvest Central Oklahoma to continue growing in both size and relevance by building new relationships, serving more families and businesses and attracting exceptional talent. Just as important, she wants to develop the organization’s next generation of leaders.
For Belford, success will not be measured by financial results alone. It will also be reflected in the strength of Arvest’s people, the depth of its customer relationships and the impact the bank continues to have throughout Central Oklahoma.
5 Locations in Oklahoma City, OK
Phone:405.677.8711
