425

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

August 23, 2018

Commission File No. 0-19341

BOK FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Oklahoma	73-1373454
(State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
Bank of Oklahoma Tower
Boston Avenue at Second Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma	74192
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(918) 588-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

___________________________________________

(Former name or former address, if changes since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

|X| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).

|_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).

|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).

|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

¨ Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT

ITEM 08.01. Other Events.

On August 23, 2018, BOK Financial Corporation (“BOK Financial”) announced that all necessary regulatory approvals required to complete the previously announced acquisition of CoBiz Financial Inc. (NASDAQ: COBZ) have been received. A copy of the press release announcing this transaction is attached as Exhibit 99 to this Form 8-K.

ITEM 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Exhibits

99 Text of Press Release, dated August 23, 2018, titled "BOK Financial Receives Regulatory Approval for CoBiz Acquisition"

Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

BOK FINANCIAL CORPORATION

By: /s/ Steven E. Nell         

Steven E. Nell

Executive Vice President

Chief Financial Officer

Date: August 23, 2018

EX-99

Exhibit 99 (a)

NASD: BOKF

For Further Information Contact:

Joseph Crivelli             

Investor Relations             

(918) 595-3030    

BOK Financial receives regulatory approval for CoBiz acquisition

TULSA, Okla., August 23, 2018 -- BOK Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: BOKF) today announced that all necessary regulatory approvals required to complete the previously announced acquisition of CoBiz Financial Inc. (NASDAQ: COBZ) have been received.The closing of the transaction is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2018, subject to the approval of CoBiz shareholders who will vote at a special meeting of shareholders on Sept. 27, 2018.
Once completed, BOK Financial expects this acquisition to be 6 percent accretive to earnings in 2019, and 9 percent accretive to earnings in 2020, the first full year with synergies. The transaction is expected to deliver an internal rate of return of over 20 percent.

About BOK Financial Corporation

BOK Financial Corporation is a $34 billion regional financial services company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company's stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the Global Select market listings (BOKF). BOK Financial's holdings include BOKF, NA, BOK Financial Securities, Inc. and The Milestone Group, Inc. BOKF, NA operates TransFund, Cavanal Hill Investment Management, BOK Financial Asset Management, Inc. and seven banking divisions: Bank of Albuquerque, Bank of Arizona, Bank of Arkansas, Mobank, Bank of Oklahoma, Bank of Texas and Colorado State Bank and Trust. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides commercial and consumer banking, investment and trust services, mortgage origination and servicing, and an electronic funds transfer network. For more information, visit www.bokf.com.

About CoBiz FinancialCoBiz Financial (NASDAQ: COBZ), is a $3.8 billion financial services company that serves the complete financial needs of businesses, business owners and professionals in Colorado and Arizona. The company's subsidiaries are: Colorado Business Bank and Arizona Business Bank, which provide commercial banking services; CoBiz Private Client Advisors which offers private

Exhibit 99 (a)

banking through CoBiz Private Bank and investment management and wealth planning through CoBiz Wealth; and CoBiz Insurance which delivers employee benefits, and property and casualty insurance brokerage.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, but not limited to, CoBiz Financial Inc.’s and BOK Financial Corporation’s expectations or predictions of future financial or business performance or conditions. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “target,” “estimate,” “continue,” “positions,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “goal,” “objective,” “prospects,” “possible” or “potential,” by future conditional verbs such as “assume,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may”, or by variations of such words or by similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and we assume no duty to update forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from current projections.

In addition to factors previously disclosed in CoBiz Financial Inc.’s and BOK Financial Corporation’s reports filed with the SEC and those identified elsewhere in this communication, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: the ability to meet closing conditions to the merger, including approval by CoBiz Financial Inc.’s shareholders on the expected terms and schedule; delay in closing the merger; difficulties and delays in integrating CoBiz Financial Inc.’s business or fully realizing cost savings and other benefits; business disruption following the merger; changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates and capital markets; inflation; customer acceptance of BOK Financial Corporation’s products and services; customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; customer disintermediation; the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives; competitive conditions; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; economic conditions; and the impact, extent and timing of technological changes, capital management activities, and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.

Annualized, pro forma, projected and estimated numbers are used for illustrative purpose only, are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

In connection with the proposed merger, BOK Financial Corporation has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include the Proxy Statement of CoBiz Financial Inc.

Exhibit 99 (a)

and a Prospectus of BOK Financial Corporation, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE MERGER E AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

A free copy of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about BOK Financial Corporation and CoBiz Financial Inc., may be obtained at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from CoBiz Financial Inc. at ir.cobizfinancial.com or from BOK Financial Corporation by accessing BOK Financial Corporation’s website at www.bokf.com. Copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus can also be obtained, free of charge, by directing a request to CoBiz Financial Inc. Investor Relations at CoBiz Financial Inc. Investor Relations, 1401 Lawrence Street, Suite 1200, Denver, CO, by calling (303) 312-3412, or by sending an e-mail to info@cobizfinancial.com or to BOK Financial Corporation Investor Relations at Bank of Oklahoma Tower, Boston Avenue at Second Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma, by calling (918) 588-6000 or by sending an e-mail to investorrelations@bokf.com.

CoBiz Financial Inc. and BOK Financial Corporation and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of CoBiz Financial Inc. in respect of the transaction described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Information regarding CoBiz Financial Inc.’s directors and executive officers is contained in CoBiz Financial Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated March 9, 2018, which are filed with the SEC.  Information regarding BOK Financial Corporation’s directors and executive officers is contained in BOK Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated March 15, 2018, which are filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.