"A long standing bank in North Tulsa is no more. Many say the closing of American State Bank is an end of an era.
Leroy Thomas had a front row seat to a moment that was truly ground breaking. "We were very excited. "It was quite the momentous occasion," Thomas told News Channel 8. He founded American State Bank in 1970. A crowd gathered to witness it's rebirth in it's new home on 38th North Peoria just seven years after it was founded. "It was a source of pride. There was no other institution in the state, financial institution controlled by blacks that in itself was an achievement we thought".
Thomas says he sold his interest in the bank in the 90s, but the bank still operated in the place he built. Until this week, it was still the only remaining black owned financial institution in Tulsa. Now a notice on the front door is directing customers to People's bank.
Edna Brooks worked at American State Bank for 15 years. She retired a few years ago. "They had talked about selling the bank for many years and after a while we just didn't think it was going to happen. I was really shocked that our only bank for the north side, the minority bank was gone," Brooks said. She'd hoped that someone else in the community would come in and to keep the north side location open. "You come so far. We had all of these when they the race riots. We had banks we had stores, everything we needed doctors lawyers, whatever". Now only memories remain. "Very sad. Very sad. An awful lot of work went into that," Thomas said.
There's no official word on what will happen to the current building, but there is some talk the bank could become a church."
Leroy Thomas had a front row seat to a moment that was truly ground breaking. "We were very excited. "It was quite the momentous occasion," Thomas told News Channel 8. He founded American State Bank in 1970. A crowd gathered to witness it's rebirth in it's new home on 38th North Peoria just seven years after it was founded. "It was a source of pride. There was no other institution in the state, financial institution controlled by blacks that in itself was an achievement we thought".
Thomas says he sold his interest in the bank in the 90s, but the bank still operated in the place he built. Until this week, it was still the only remaining black owned financial institution in Tulsa. Now a notice on the front door is directing customers to People's bank.
Edna Brooks worked at American State Bank for 15 years. She retired a few years ago. "They had talked about selling the bank for many years and after a while we just didn't think it was going to happen. I was really shocked that our only bank for the north side, the minority bank was gone," Brooks said. She'd hoped that someone else in the community would come in and to keep the north side location open. "You come so far. We had all of these when they the race riots. We had banks we had stores, everything we needed doctors lawyers, whatever". Now only memories remain. "Very sad. Very sad. An awful lot of work went into that," Thomas said.
There's no official word on what will happen to the current building, but there is some talk the bank could become a church."