A Legacy of Impact, A Vision for Growth: A Conversation with Olena Lifset, Bank of America’s New OKC President

Q: How does your 25-year professional background, combined with your role on the Greater OKC Chamber Advisory Board, shape your leadership approach today?  

Lifset: Serving on the Chamber’s Advisory Board allows me to help shape initiatives driving our city’s growth, particularly in education, workforce, and economic development. This keeps me closely connected to the real-time needs of our local economy. My background across commercial banking, capital markets, and consulting has given me the ability to focus on problem-solving. When we sit down with a client or community partner, we start by seeking to understand their unique priorities. Coming from a consulting perspective, I consider what other industry leaders are doing that works and what doesn’t. We have an advantage with Bank of America's broad client base and national relationships to bring cutting-edge thought leadership and best practices to Oklahoma City. 

Q: Tony Shinn’s 18-year legacy as Market President was deeply rooted in community. What is the most valuable insight he shared with you during this transition, and how does that shape your primary vision for Bank of America in Oklahoma City over the next three to five years? 

Lifset: Tony’s leadership was defined by a simple but incredibly powerful philosophy: people first. Investing in and caring about teammates, clients, and the community is of the utmost importance. That principle is the exact foundation upon which I will build my vision for the future. My primary vision is for Bank of America to be an indispensable partner in Oklahoma City. On a business level, I want to drive integration by bringing our diverse lines of businesses directly to our clients to help them succeed. On a civic level, we will focus on key community pillars, including workforce development and supporting emergency services. Finally, I want to champion our incredible local culture of volunteerism. OKC has one of the highest employee volunteerism rates for Bank of America in the country, and keeping that momentum going is the ultimate way to show we are fully invested in our neighbors. 

Q: Bank of America has a deep history in Oklahoma City. How would you describe the bank’s current economic footprint in the metro, and how does that long-standing history shape your role today?  

Lifset: Our presence in Oklahoma City traces all the way back to our earliest predecessor bank established in 1901, meaning we have been helping this region grow for over 120 years. Today, we back up that history with substantial economic power. Beyond our philanthropic giving and volunteerism, we are actively fueling OKC's economy with $54 million in small business loans and $792 million in commercial lending, supporting local businesses through our 11 financial centers and serving over 134,000 digitally active local clients, all backed by a dedicated team of 160 local employees. This strong financial foundation allows us to be an effective partner in driving OKC’s ongoing expansion. 

Q: Locally, Bank of America has contributed $4 million in philanthropic giving and over 29,300 volunteer hours since 2020. Which specific community initiatives are you most passionate about championing? 

Lifset: We are focused on channeling our resources into areas where we can drive the most meaningful, long-term impact in our communities. First and foremost is housing and economic mobility. We know that homeownership is the cornerstone of building generational wealth. To support this, Bank of America recently announced the continuation of the Community Homeownership Commitment, which has already delivered more than $15 billion in affordable home loans, including over $600 million in down payment and closing cost grants, to help over 57,000 homebuyers purchase homes across the country, including right here in our state.  

Alongside housing, we are deeply invested in workforce development and strengthening our nonprofit ecosystem. We support our own employees with a leading $25 per hour minimum wage. Locally, we partner with organizations like the Urban League, ReMerge, Metro Tech, and the OKC Public Schools Foundation to connect residents to livable-wage job opportunities. Through our signature Student Leaders® program, we prepare community-minded students to enter the workforce by funding paid summer internships with local nonprofits, including the Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County, and provide leadership training and funding to critical local nonprofits like the Diversion Hub, Homeless Alliance, Pivot, Mental Health Association, and Sunbeam through our Neighborhood Builders® initiative.  

Through our Golf with Us initiative with Youth on Course, we’ve made golf affordable for more than 170,000 kids nationwide, including more than 1,565 right here in OKC, since launching in 2025. This included hosting a golf clinic last summer at Lincoln Park Golf Course for more than 60 children from the Boys & Girls Club, and we look forward to expanding access to youth development programs like this across OKC in the years to come. 

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a part of the OKC community? 

Lifset: I deeply admire how resilient Oklahomans are. Even when dealing with our unpredictable weather, people come together instantly to solve problems. It is a highly civic-minded city. In Oklahoma City, anyone has the ability to make a real impact.