RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Policies and Procedures Regarding Related Party Transactions
Transactions by us or the Bank with related persons are subject to regulatory requirements and restrictions. These requirements and restrictions include the Affiliates Act and the Federal Reserve’s Regulation W (which governs certain transactions by the Bank with its affiliates) and the Federal Reserve’s Regulation O (which governs certain loans by the Bank to its executive officers, directors, and principal shareholders). We have adopted policies to comply with these regulatory requirements and restrictions.
In addition, our board of directors has adopted a written policy governing the approval of related person transactions that complies with all applicable requirements of the SEC and the NASDAQ Global Select Market concerning related person transactions. Related person transactions are transactions in which we are a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and a related person has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Related persons of the Company include directors (including nominees for election as directors), executive officers, beneficial holders of more than 5% of our capital stock and the immediate family members of these persons. Our executive management team, in consultation with outside counsel, as appropriate, will review potential related person transactions to determine if they are subject to the policy. In determining whether to approve a related person transaction, that committee will consider, among other factors, the fairness of the proposed transaction, the direct or indirect nature of the related person’s interest in the transaction, the appearance of an improper conflict of interests for any director or executive officer taking into account the size of the transaction and the financial position of the related person, whether the transaction would impair an outside director’s independence, the acceptability of the transaction to our regulators and the potential violations of other corporate policies.
Ordinary Banking Relationships
Certain of our officers, directors and principal shareholders, as well as their immediate family members and affiliates, are customers of, or have or have had transactions with us or the Bank in the ordinary course of business. These transactions include deposits, loans, wealth management products and other financial services related transactions. Related party transactions are made in the ordinary course of business, on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral (where applicable), as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons not related to us, and do not involve more than normal risk of collectability or present other features unfavorable to us. Any loans we originate with officers, directors and principal shareholders, as well as their immediate family members and affiliates, are approved by our board of directors in accordance with the Bank’s regulatory requirements.
As of the date of this proxy statement, no related party loans were categorized as nonaccrual, past due, restructured or potential problem loans. We expect to continue to enter into transactions in the ordinary course of business on similar terms with our officers, directors and principal shareholders, as well as their immediate family members and affiliates.
Employment Arrangements
During 2024, we employed Douglas A. Haines, the Bank’s Regional President for Western Oklahoma and Kansas, who is the brother of our Chairman of the Board. The background experience of Douglas A. Haines is discussed under the heading “Executive Officers.” During the year ended 2024, we paid Douglas A. Haines $429,558 of compensation for his service as an employee. Douglas A. Haines was also entitled to participate in the general welfare programs of the Bank to the same extent as the other Bank employees.
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with our initial public offering, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the Haines Family Trusts. The agreement provides the Haines Family Trusts with certain demand and piggyback registration rights in respect of any registrable shares of our common stock held by them, subject to various conditions and limitations as set forth in the agreement. We will pay all expenses in connection with any such registrations.
