                                                                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 Year-to-Date Earnings Down 1%
                       Rising Credit Costs Impact Earnings

TULSA,  Okla.  (Tuesday,  July 15, 2008) - BOK  Financial  Corporation  reported
earnings of $43.7 million or $0.65 per diluted  share for the second  quarter of
2008.  Net income totaled $62.3 million or $0.92 per diluted share for the first
quarter  of 2008 and $53.9  million  or $0.80 per  diluted  share for the second
quarter  of 2007.  Net income for the six  months  ended June 30,  2008  totaled
$105.9  million or $1.57 per diluted  share  compared  with net income of $106.7
million or $1.58 per diluted share for the same period of 2007.

Highlights of the second quarter of 2008 included:

o    Net interest  revenue  totaled  $159.1  million,  up $12.0 million over the
     first quarter of 2008 and $24.2  million or 18% over the second  quarter of
     2007. Net interest margin increased to 3.45% for the second quarter of 2008
     from 3.31% for both the first  quarter  of 2008 and the  second  quarter of
     2007.

o    Fees and commissions  revenue  totaled $113.6  million,  down $263 thousand
     from the first  quarter of 2008 and up $16.6 million or 17% over the second
     quarter of 2007.

o    Non-performing assets totaled $158 million or 1.26% of outstanding loans at
     June 30, 2008, up from $126 million or 1.02% of outstanding  loans at March
     31, 2008 and $70 million or 0.60% of outstanding loans at June 30, 2007.

o    Net loans  charged off and  provision  for credit losses were $13.0 million
     and $38.3 million,  respectively, for the second quarter of 2008. Net loans
     charged off  totaled  $8.9  million for the first  quarter of 2008 and $5.8
     million for the second quarter of 2007. The provision for credit losses was
     $17.6 million for the first quarter of 2008 and $7.8 million for the second
     quarter of 2007.

o    Net losses on securities, derivatives and mortgage servicing rights totaled
     $9.0  million for the second  quarter of 2008,  compared  with net gains on
     securities,  derivatives and mortgage  servicing rights of $5.0 million for
     the first  quarter  of 2008 and net  losses of $1.4  million  in the second
     quarter  of 2007.  The  change  in net  gains  and  losses  on  securities,
     derivatives and mortgage  servicing  rights  decreased second quarter's net
     income $9.0 million compared with the first quarter of 2008.

o    No other than temporary impairment charges against the Company's securities
     portfolio  were  recognized  in the second  quarter of 2008  compared  with
     charges of $5.3  million in the first  quarter of 2008.  The Company has no
     equity investments in FNMA or FHLMC.

"We are disappointed with the impact of rising credit costs on our performance,"
said  President and CEO Stan  Lybarger.  "However,  net interest  revenue showed
solid  growth  due to both  earning  assets  and  rising  net  interest  margin.
Non-interest  revenue was 42% of our total  revenue  for the second  quarter - a
level  that sets us apart  from  most  regional  banks.  We also have one of the
stronger capital positions among the top 50 U.S. banks."

Net Interest Revenue

Net interest  revenue  totaled $159.1 million for the second quarter of 2008, up
$12.0  million over the first  quarter of 2008 and $24.2 million or 18% over the
second quarter of 2007.  Average earning assets  increased $720 million compared
with the first  quarter of 2008,  including a $346  million  increase in average
loans and a $397 million increase in average securities.  Average earning assets
increased $2.1 billion over the second quarter of 2007, including a $1.2 billion
increase in average  outstanding  loans and a $917  million  increase in average
securities.

Growth in average  earning  assets  compared  with the first quarter of 2008 was
funded  primarily by a $991 million  increase in average federal funds purchased
and other borrowed funds. In addition,  average deposits  increased $198 million
over the first quarter of 2008. Average  interest-bearing  transaction  accounts
increased  $244 million and average demand deposit  account  balances  increased
$100 million.  Average time deposits decreased $149 million.  Funds generated by
growth in deposits and borrowings were also used to fund a $485 million increase
in  average  margin  assets.  Margin  assets  placed by the  Company  secure its
obligations under various derivatives contracts.

Net interest margin was 3.45% for the second quarter of 2008 compared with 3.31%
for both the first quarter of 2008 and the second  quarter of 2007.  Widening of
the spread  between LIBOR and the federal funds rate  increased our net interest
margin.  LIBOR is the basis for the interest earned on many of our loans and the
federal  funds  rate  is  the  basis  for  the  interest  paid  on  many  of our
interest-bearing  liabilities.  Yields on average  earning  assets  decreased 56
basis points from the previous quarter to 5.61%.  Loan yields were down 79 basis
points  and   securities   yields  were  down  3  basis  points.   The  cost  of
interest-bearing liabilities decreased 82 basis points from the previous quarter
to 2.29%. The cost of  interest-bearing  deposits  decreased 77 basis points and
the cost of other borrowed funds decreased 101 basis points.

Loans and Deposits

Outstanding  loans totaled $12.7 billion at June 30, 2008, up $276 million or 9%
annualized  since March 31,  2008.  Commercial  loans  totaled  $7.1 billion and
commercial real estate loans totaled $2.8 billion.  The  outstanding  balance of
commercial  loans increased $108 million or 6% annualized  while the outstanding
balance of commercial  real estate loans  decreased $4 million or 1% annualized.
Commercial  real estate loans  comprised 22% of the total loan portfolio at June
30, 2008. Residential mortgage loans, which includes loans secured by 1-4 family
properties  and home equity loans,  totaled $1.6 billion at June 30, 2008.  Home
equity loans  totaled $479 million at June 30, 2008,  including  $318 million in
Oklahoma,  $73 million in Texas and $68 million in New  Mexico.  Consumer  loans
totaled  $1.0  billion,  including  $735 million of indirect  automobile  loans.
Indirect auto loans were up $49 million since March 31, 2008.

Commercial  loans to the  services and other  portfolio  sectors  increased  $64
million and $49 million,  respectively,  since March 31, 2008. In addition,  the
outstanding  balances of loans to the wholesale / retail and healthcare  sectors
were up $21 million and $15 million. Loans to the energy sector of the portfolio
were down $46 million.

Commercial real estate loans secured by land,  residential lots and construction
totaled  $1.0 billion or 8% of the loan  portfolio  at June 30,  2008,  down $45
million since March 31, 2008. The  distribution  of land and residential lot and
construction  loans among our various  markets  included  $299 million in Texas,
$265 million in Oklahoma, $180 million in Colorado and $173 million in Arizona.

Total deposits  increased  $796 million or 24% annualized  since March 31, 2008.
Interest-bearing  transaction  account balances  increased $321 million and time
deposit  balances  increased $378 million.  In addition,  demand deposit account
balances were up $95 million. Substantially all deposit growth during the second
quarter  was  attributed  to  Oklahoma,  the  market  with  our  largest  retail
distribution network.

Credit Quality

Non-performing  assets  totaled $158 million or 1.26% of  outstanding  loans and
repossessed  assets at June 30,  2008,  up $32  million  since  March 31,  2008.
Non-performing commercial, commercial real estate and residential mortgage loans
generally are secured and individually less than $10 million. In addition,  $8.6
million of non-performing  residential mortgage loans are guaranteed by agencies
of the U.S. government and $14 million of non-performing  assets in the Colorado
market were acquired with First United Bank in the second  quarter of 2007.  The
Company  will be  reimbursed  by the  sellers  up to $8  million  for any losses
incurred during a three-year period after the acquisition  date.  Non-performing
assets,  excluding  assets  guaranteed by the U.S.  government or subject to the
First United Bank sellers'  escrow  totaled $135 million or 1.08% of outstanding
loans and repossessed assets.

Non-accruing  commercial  real  estate  loans  totaled  $60  million or 2.14% of
outstanding  commercial  real  estate  loans  at  June  30,  2008.  Non-accruing
commercial  real estate loans included $45 million of land and  residential  lot
and construction loans, $896 thousand of loans secured by multifamily properties
and  $14  million  of  loans  secured  by  other  commercial   properties.   The
distribution of non-accruing  land and  residential lot and  construction  loans
among our various markets included $30 million in Arizona,  $6 million in Texas,
$5 million in Colorado and $2 million in Oklahoma.

At June 30,  2008,  non-performing  assets in the  Arizona  market  totaled  $35
million or 5.67% of loans and repossessed  assets,  up from $19 million or 3.17%
at March 31, 2008.  Non-performing  land and  residential  lot and  construction
loans in the Arizona  market  totaled $30 million,  up from $16 million at March
31, 2008.

"While we were  disappointed  in this  quarter's  asset  quality  trends,  it is
important  to note that the  Arizona  real  estate  market has been the  biggest
driver of the deterioration," said Lybarger.  "This market is a relatively small
percentage of our Company's  balance  sheet.  Credit cycles are a normal part of
the  banking  environment  and we  will  be  impacted.  However,  we  have  long
maintained commercial real estate below 25% of total loans, which should help as
we work through this cycle."

Non-performing commercial loans totaled $46 million at June 30, 2008 or 0.65% of
outstanding  commercial  loans.  Approximately  $30  million  of  non-performing
commercial  loans are in the services sector of the portfolio.  The distribution
of  non-performing  loans to the  services  sector  among  our  various  markets
included  $18  million  in  Oklahoma,  $5  million  in Texas and $4  million  in
Colorado.

At June 30,  2008,  the  distribution  of  indirect  automobile  loans among our
various  markets was $476 million in Oklahoma,  $181 million in Arkansas and $78
million in Texas.  Approximately 1.95% of the indirect automobile loan portfolio
is past due 30 days or more, including 2.03% in Oklahoma,  2.03% in Arkansas and
1.27%  in  Texas.  At  March  31,  2008,  approximately  1.96%  of the  indirect
automobile  loan  portfolio  was past due 30 days or more.  Comparable  national
average  past due rate is 3.09% based on survey data as of March 31,  2008.  Net
loans  charged-off  totaled $1.7 million in the second  quarter of 2008 and $1.6
million in the first quarter of 2008.

The combined  allowance  for loan losses and  off-balance  sheet  credit  losses
totaled  $182  million or 1.45% of  outstanding  loans and 145% of  non-accruing
loans at June 30, 2008.  The  allowance for loan losses was $159 million and the
reserve for off-balance sheet credit losses was $23 million.  At March 31, 2008,
the combined  allowance  for loan losses and  off-balance  sheet  credit  losses
totaled  $156  million or 1.27% of  outstanding  loans and 158% of  non-accruing
loans.  The  allowance  for loan  losses was $137  million  and the  reserve for
off-balance  sheet  credit  losses was $19 million.  As is always the case,  the
Company will  continue to evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses
as of June 30, 2008 through  August 9, 2008,  the date its financial  statements
are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and will make adjustments
to amounts reported if necessary.

Real estate and other  repossessed  assets totaled $21 million at June 30, 2008,
up from $15 million at March 31, 2008. Real estate and other repossessed  assets
included $13 million of 1-4 family  residential  properties and residential land
development   properties,   $2  million  of   automobiles   and  $3  million  of
manufacturing  facilities.  Approximately  $1.7 million of real estate and other
repossessed assets are supported by the First United Bank sellers' guaranty.

The Company also has off-balance sheet obligations  related to certain community
development  residential  mortgage  loans  that were sold with  recourse.  These
mortgage  loans were  underwritten  to  standards  approved  by U.S.  government
agencies,  including  full  documentation  and were  originated  under  programs
available only for owner-occupied  properties. The outstanding principal balance
of these loans totaled $400 million at June 30, 2008.  All of these loans are to
borrowers  in our  primary  markets  including  $281  million  to  borrowers  in
Oklahoma,  $45 million to borrowers in Arkansas, $23 million to borrowers in New
Mexico and $19 million to  borrowers  in the Kansas City area.  At June 30, 2008
approximately  2.12% of these loans are  non-performing.  A separate reserve for
credit risk of $7.5 million is maintained for these loans.

Fees and Commission Revenue

Fees and  commission  revenue  decreased $263 thousand from the first quarter of
2008  and  increased  $16.6  million  or 17% over the  second  quarter  of 2007.
Brokerage  and trading  revenue was down $9.4 million over the previous  quarter
due primarily to the effect of increased  risk  associated  with  continued high
energy prices and volatility on the fair value of energy derivatives.  Brokerage
and trading revenue increased $1.2 million or 9% over the second quarter of 2007
due primarily to institutional  securities sales, partially offset by a decrease
in derivatives revenue.

Deposit  service  charges  increased $2.5 million over the first quarter of 2008
and $3.4 million or 13% over the second  quarter of 2007 due primarily to growth
in overdraft  fees and  commercial  account  charges.  Transaction  card revenue
increased  $2.2 million  over the previous  quarter and $2.9 million or 13% over
the second  quarter of 2007 due to growth in ATM,  merchant  discount  and debit
card fees.

Fees earned on margin assets totaled $4.5 million in the second quarter of 2008,
$2.0  million  in the first  quarter  of 2008 and $969  thousand  in the  second
quarter of 2007.

Securities, Derivatives and Mortgage Servicing Rights

Net losses on securities, derivatives and mortgage servicing rights totaled $9.0
million for the second  quarter of 2008 compared  with net gains on  securities,
derivatives and mortgage  servicing rights of $5.0 million for the first quarter
of 2008. The change between quarters reduced net income $9.0 million.

                                                    Quarter Ended
                                            June 30    March 31   June 30
                                              2008       2008       2007
                                           ----------------------------------
Gain (loss) on portfolio securities         $   276     $2,947   $(   580)
Gain on Visa IPO securities                       -      6,788          -
Other than temporary impairment of
  equity securities                               -     (5,306)         -
Gain (loss) on derivative contracts          (2,961)     2,113    (   183)
Gain (loss) on mortgage hedge
  securities                                 (5,518)       191     (5,682)
Gain (loss) on change in fair value
  of mortgage servicing rights              (   767)    (1,762)     5,061
                                            ---------------------------------
Gain (loss) on mortgage servicing rights
  net of mortgage hedge securities           (6,285)    (1,571)    (  621)
                                            ---------------------------------
Net gain (loss) on securities, derivatives
  and mortgage servicing rights             $(8,970)   $ 4,971    $(1,384)
                                            =================================


Operating Expense

Operating  expenses  totaled  $159.3  million for the second quarter of 2008, up
$5.9 million over the  preceding  quarter and $25.1 million or 19% over the same
period  of 2007.  Excluding  changes  in the fair  value of  mortgage  servicing
rights, operating expenses increased $6.9 million over the first quarter of 2008
and $19.3 million or 14% over the second quarter of 2007. Personnel expense grew
$1.5  million  compared  with the first  quarter of 2008 and $9.5 million or 12%
compared  with the second  quarter of 2007.  Insurance  expense  decreased  $1.1
million  compared  with the first  quarter of 2008 and  increased  $1.9  million
compared with the second quarter of 2007 due primarily to FDIC insurance costs.

Credit  losses on  mortgage  loans  sold with  recourse,  which is  included  in
mortgage  banking costs,  totaled $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2008 and
$2.5 million in the first quarter of 2008.

Capital Management

The Company's tangible capital ratio was 7.33% at June 30, 2008, down from 7.83%
at March 31, 2008. The decrease in the tangible  capital ratio was due primarily
to balance sheet growth,  including a $715 million increase in the fair value of
derivative contracts held for customer risk management programs.  Cash dividends
paid  during the  second  quarter of 2008  totaled  $15.2  million or $0.225 per
common  share.  The cash dividend paid per common share was up 12% compared with
the first quarter of 2008.


About BOK Financial Corp.

BOK  Financial  Corp.  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., the TransFund  electronic  funds
network,  Cavanal Hill Investment Management,  Inc. 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.

This  news  release  contains  forward-looking  statements  that  are  based  on
management's  beliefs,   assumptions,   current   expectations,   estimates  and
projections about BOK Financial, the financial services industry and the economy
generally.  Words such as  "anticipates,"  "believes,"  "estimates,"  "expects,"
"forecasts,"   "plans,"  "projects,"   variations  of  such  words  and  similar
expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Management
judgments  relating to and  discussion of the provision and allowance for credit
losses involve judgments as to future events and are inherently  forward-looking
statements.  Assessments  that BOK  Financial's  acquisitions  and other  growth
endeavors  will be  profitable  are  necessary  statements  of  belief as to the
outcome of future events based in part on  information  provided by others which
BOK  Financial  has  not  independently  verified.   These  statements  are  not
guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks,  uncertainties,  and
assumptions  which are  difficult  to predict  with  regard to  timing,  extent,
likelihood and degree of occurrence.  Therefore, actual results and outcomes may
materially  differ  from  what  is  expected,  implied  or  forecasted  in  such
forward-looking statements.  Internal and external factors that might cause such
a difference  include,  but are not limited to (1) the ability to fully  realize
expected  cost  savings from mergers  within the expected  time frames,  (2) the
ability of other  companies on which BOK  Financial  relies to provide goods and
services in a timely and  accurate  manner,  (3)  changes in interest  rates and
interest  rate  relationships,  (4) demand for  products and  services,  (5) the
degree of competition by traditional and nontraditional competitors, (6) changes
in banking regulations, tax laws, prices, levies and assessments, (7) the impact
of technological  advances and (8) trends in consumer  behavior as well as their
ability to repay loans. BOK Financial and its affiliates undertake no obligation
to update, amend or clarify forward-looking  statements,  whether as a result of
new information, future events, or otherwise.




