Southwest Bancorp, Inc. Announces Planned Resumption of Dividends to Treasury and Dividends to Investors in Trust Preferred

Southwest Bancorp, Inc. Announces Planned Resumption of Dividends to Treasury
and Dividends to Investors in Trust Preferred Securities, Termination of
Regulatory Agreements, and Change in Chief Financial Officer

STILLWATER, Okla., May 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Dividends

Southwest Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq:OKSB) (Nasdaq:OKSBP), ("Southwest"), parent
bank holding company of Stillwater National Bank and Trust Company
("Stillwater National") and Bank of Kansas, is pleased to announce that it
plans to resume payment of dividends on its Series B Preferred Securities
("Series B Securities") and its three issues of trust preferred securities.
Southwest also intends to pay all dividends on these securities that have been
deferred.

Rick Green, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman stated,
"Southwest is pleased to have the ability to pay preferred dividends again and
to bring current all dividend payments on our preferred securities. This news
follows a profitable first quarter 2012 and demonstrates the progress
Southwest has made since preferred dividend deferrals began in August 2011."

Payments of dividends will be made according to the payment schedules of the
securities, and are expected to be completed in July. Deferred preferred
dividends on the Debentures and the Series B Preferred totaled $7.4 million at
March 31, 2012. Southwest has accrued the deferred dividends, so that payments
of them will have a minimal effect on earnings and capital. The Series B
Securities were issued by Southwest to the U.S. Treasury under the Troubled
Asset Relief Program, or "TARP". See additional information regarding
regulation of dividends in the Termination of Regulatory Agreements section,
below. Holders of Southwest's trust preferred securities issues should receive
notice of the time and amounts of their dividend payments from the trusts'
dividend payment agents or their brokers.

Termination of Regulatory Agreements

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") has notified Stillwater
National that, effective May 17, 2012, it is no longer subject to the written
formal agreement (the "Agreement") entered into on January 27, 2010. The
Agreement primarily related to levels of commercial real estate lending and
problem assets, and included a requirement for Stillwater National to submit
written plans to the OCC and to take required actions related to improving
credit risk management. In addition, the Agreement required submission of a
three-year capital plan and required Stillwater National to obtain OCC
approval before increasing its use of brokered deposits or declaring
dividends.

Further, the OCC has notified Stillwater National that, effective May 17,
2012, it is no longer subject to the informal Individual Minimum Capital
Agreement entered into on January 27, 2010, which required Stillwater National
to maintain a ratio of total capital to risk weighted assets of at least 12.5%
and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 8.5%. At March 31, 2012, Stillwater
National had a total risk based capital ratio of 20.16% and a leverage ratio
of 14.32%, both in excess of the minimum levels, and remained well capitalized
for regulatory purposes. The general regulatory minimums to be
well-capitalized are a total risk based capital ratio of 10.00%, a Tier 1 risk
based capital ratio of 6.00%, and a leverage ratio of 5.00%.

Mr. Green stated, "We are pleased to have earned the termination of both the
formal and informal OCC agreements. This action reflects the commitment of our
officers and employees and the improvements in risk management that have been
implemented."

Like all national banks, Stillwater National remains subject to legal and
regulatory limitations on the amount of dividends that it may pay without
prior approval of the OCC. Under these regulations, the total amount of
dividends that may be paid in any calendar year by Stillwater National to
Southwest without OCC approval is limited to the current year's net profits,
combined with the retained net profits of the preceding two years. Losses
experienced in 2011, primarily attributable to the fourth quarter sale of
approximately $300 million in loans and other real estate, will impact
Stillwater National's ability to pay dividends without prior approval.
Southwest's informal commitments to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
(the "Federal Reserve") made in 2009, continue in effect. These include
providing prior notice to the Federal Reserve of planned dividends to
securities holders and planned receipt of dividends from its banking
subsidiaries.

Personnel Matters

Laura Robertson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has
submitted her resignation effective June 29, 2012. Ms. Robertson stated, "I
value the career opportunities I have had with Southwest. I know that the
experiences I had here have enabled me to become a better professional and I
will always have a deep appreciation for Southwest and its people."

Mr. Green stated, "We greatly appreciate Ms. Robertson's leadership over the
past 18 months. She assumed the position of Chief Financial Officer at a very
difficult time for Southwest, and her dedication and guidance have been
invaluable. We wish her well in her future endeavors."

Southwest is pleased to announce the appointment of Randy R. Waldrup as
Interim Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Waldrup, age 56, is joining Southwest on
June 4, 2012 as Executive Vice President and Interim CFO. He has 32 years of
banking experience at three financial institutions, and served as CFO in his
prior two positions. Mr. Waldrup, a certified public accountant, earned his
bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Oklahoma Christian College
and his MBA from Central State University.

Priscilla Barnes, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer,
stated, "We are very pleased that Mr. Waldrup has agreed to join our Company
and accept this challenge. We believe the experience and stability he brings
will serve Southwest well and we look forward to his tenure. We are also
appreciative that Ms. Robertson has graciously agreed to assist during the
transition period."

                      Southwest Bancorp and Subsidiaries

Southwest is the bank holding company for Stillwater National Bank and Trust
Company ("Stillwater National") and Bank of Kansas. Through its subsidiaries,
Southwest offers commercial and consumer lending, deposit and investment
services, specialized cash management, and other financial services from
offices in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas, and on the Internet, through SNB
DirectBanker®. We were organized in 1981 as the holding company for Stillwater
National, which was chartered in 1894. At March 31, 2012 we had total assets
of $2.3 billion, deposits of $1.8 billion, and shareholders' equity of $311.6
million.

Southwest's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under
the symbol OKSB. Southwest's public trust preferred securities are traded on
the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol OKSBP.

The Southwest Bancorp, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8074

                   Caution About Forward-Looking Statements

We make forward-looking statements in this news release that are subject to
risks and uncertainties. We intend these statements to be covered by the safe
harbor provision for forward-looking statements contained in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

These forward-looking statements include, among others:

  * Statements of Southwest's goals, intentions, and expectations;
  * Expectations regarding our future financial performance and the financial
    performance of our operating segments;
  * Expectations regarding regulatory actions; and
  * Statements of our ability to achieve financial and other goals.

These forward-looking statements are subject to significant uncertainties
because they are based upon: the amount and timing of future changes in
interest rates, market behavior, and other economic conditions; future laws,
regulations, and accounting principles; changes in regulatory standards and
examination policies, and a variety of other matters. These other matters
include, among other things, the direct and indirect effects of economic
conditions on interest rates, credit quality, loan demand, liquidity, and
monetary and supervisory policies of banking regulators. Because of these
uncertainties, the actual future results may be materially different from the
results indicated by these forward-looking statements. In addition,
Southwest's past growth and performance do not necessarily indicate our future
results. For other factors, risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from estimates and projections contained in
forward-looking statements, please read the "Risk Factors" contained in
Southwest's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The cautionary statements in this release also identify important factors and
possible events that involve risk and uncertainties that could cause our
actual results to differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date on which the statements were made. We do not intend to, and undertake
no obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in
this release, whether as a result of differences in actual results, changes in
assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting such statements, except as
required by law.

CONTACT: Rick Green
         President & CEO
         Priscilla J. Barnes
         Senior EVP & COO
         (405) 372-2230

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