Citizens Security Bank Expands Services
By K.J. WEBB
Contributing Writer
IN-HOUSE ADVISOR: Citizens Security Bank Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer John Mabrey, left, welcomes Smith Barney Financial Advisor Roger Littlefield to the Bixby location, enabling Citizens Security customers direct and personal access to Smith Barney’s variety of financial planning and advisory services.
K.J. WEBB for GTR Newspapers
Citizens Security Bank, headquartered in Bixby, has recently enhanced its wide range of customer services. In March of this year, in conjunction with Citizens Security Bank, Smith Barney, one of the world’s largest financial services firms, decided to establish an in-house consultancy at the bank’s Bixby headquarters. As a result of this arrangement, Smith Barney Financial Advisor Roger Littlefield now offices at the Bixby location enabling Citizens Security customers direct and personal access to Smith Barney’s variety of financial planning and advisory services.
According to John Mabrey, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of CSB, “Citizens Security Bank offers all commercial banking services. Through our affiliation with Smith Barney, we are able to offer our customers the highest level of expertise and resources for all non-banking products and services. Roger handles the stock market investments, money markets, portfolio evaluation and management, insurance products, estate planning and more.”
With the addition of Smith Barney’s services, CSB gains a competitive edge in the market as most banks do not offer non-banking products. Mabrey describes the bank as a “one-stop shop,” adding, “Our customers can do everything at CSB and consultations are complimentary.” Littlefield says, “A big issue for people is things have gotten so complicated. Life has many demands and people are extremely busy. They like to know there is one place they can go and work with people they trust who can handle everything from their banking needs to personal financial goals. We call what we offer ‘solutions for life,’ meaning everything from savings for your children through retirement planning.”
Customer response to the added CSB services has been positive. Mabrey indicates that the slowing economy is an influence: “When things get tougher economically, people pay more attention to their finances. It’s human nature; when things go well, we tend to get a little complacent. When things become more difficult, people focus more on these things.”
When asked if there is one product that clients gravitate to more than others, Littlefield says, “Not necessarily. An important part of my job as a certified financial planner is to understand what people are trying to accomplish. There may be some products that are more appropriate to our clients’ particular situations and needs. It comes down to us helping them to accomplish their goals.
“Through offering these non-banking products to individual clients, we’ve been able to provide the same investing opportunities that institutional investors have. Some of our clients are passionate about investing and know a lot. They rely on us to provide expert services to ensure that their strategies are appropriate for their goals. It’s always wise to have a second set of eyes look at your investment strategy. Others just need someone to help them. They know what they want but have no idea how to get there.”
Littlefield is a seasoned professional who is well-positioned to assist CSB clients. As a certified financial planner, as well as a financial planning specialist with over 18 years in the financial services industry, he has in-depth experience to apply to clients’ needs. Mabrey says, “Having Roger at CSB has expanded our client services in a way that we can better serve them and provide the expertise and resources to help them reach their goals.”
About Citizens Security Bank: CSB was founded in 1924. It offers full service banking facilities in Bixby, Jenks, Glenpool, Broken Arrow, South Tulsa, Okmulgee, Haskell and Muskogee.
Updated 06-24-2008
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