Exhibit 99 (a)

NASD: BOKF


For Further Information Contact:
Steven Nell                    Jesse Boudiette
Chief Financial Officer        Corporate Communications Manager
(918) 588-6000                 (918) 588-6532


                 BOK FINANCIAL CORP. CHOOSES NOT TO PARTICIPATE
                     IN TREASURY'S CAPITAL PURCHASE PROGRAM


TULSA, Okla. (Wednesday, November 12, 2008) - BOK Financial Corp. elected not to
participate  in the  Treasury's  Capital  Purchase  Program,  an  element of the
Troubled  Assets Relief Program (TARP) intended to provide banks with additional
capital.

"We were invited to participate in this program though government officials made
it clear this was solely our business  decision,"  said BOK Financial  President
and CEO  Stan  Lybarger.  "We  studied  it  closely  as a  potential  option  to
supplement  our  existing  strong  capital  position,   but  we  determined  the
additional  funds were  unnecessary.  Our current  capital levels are well above
government  requirements  and we have  access  to  additional  private  capital,
uniquely positioning the company to continue growth plans without the additional
capital  provided by the  program.  Our support of  customers in this region has
remained strong;  we continue to lend and we have adequate funding and liquidity
to support  anticipated  loan  opportunities.  Our capital  strength will permit
sufficient  support  to our  regional  customers  and  allow us to seek and take
advantage of acquisitions opportunities."

On October  29, BOK  Financial  reported  2008 third  quarter  earnings of $56.7
million or $0.84 per diluted share,  net interest  revenue of $164.3 million and
fees and  commissions  revenue of $126.7  million.  The  company and each of its
subsidiary  banks  exceeded the  regulatory  definition of  well-capitalized  at
September 30, 2008,  with the company's  Tier 1 and tangible  capital  ratios at
9.25% and 7.16%, respectively.  Combined reserves for credit losses totaled $209
million or 1.65% of  outstanding  loans at September  30, 2008. At September 30,
the bank's  ratio of reserves to  outstanding  loans  exceeded the median of its
defined group of similarly  sized peer banks. On October 28, the company's board
of directors maintained its cash dividend of $0.225 per common share.

"The government is taking  appropriate  steps to stabilize the U.S.  economy and
financial  markets and we  anticipate  these  efforts will  generate  results by
helping  support the  financial  institutions  that would  benefit most from the
assistance," Lybarger said.

BOK Financial is a regional financial services company that provides  commercial
and consumer banking,  investment and trust services,  mortgage  origination and
servicing,  and an electronic funds transfer  network.  Holdings include Bank of
Albuquerque,  N.A.,  Bank of Arizona,  N.A.,  Bank of  Arkansas,  N.A.,  Bank of
Oklahoma,  N.A., Bank of Texas, N.A., Colorado State Bank & Trust, N.A., Bank of
Kansas City,  N.A., BOSC, Inc.,  Cavanal Hill Investment  Management,  Inc., the
TransFund electronic funds network, and Southwest Trust Company,  N.A. Shares of
BOK  Financial  are  traded  on the  NASDAQ  under  the  symbol  BOKF.  For more
information, visit www.bokf.com. # # #