Waypoint Realty
Waypoint Realty
From College Investor to Real Estate Success: Aaron Meriwether’s Partnership with First Oklahoma Bank
When Aaron Meriwether bought his first house in college to rent rooms to his friends, he didn’t know it would spark a lifelong passion for real estate investment.
Today, as the owner of Waypoint Realty and M&M Capital Investments, Meriwether credits much of his success to the unique partnership he’s built with First Oklahoma Bank since 2013.
A Different Kind of Banking Experience
Meriwether’s first interaction with First Oklahoma Bank immediately set it apart from traditional lending institutions.
“Eric came out and gave me a tour of the building. The president came out, and he shook my hand,” Meriwether recalls.
“This is different. This is not a regular bank.”
Beyond the Traditional Lending Model
What makes First Oklahoma Bank unique, according to Meriwether, is their holistic approach to lending.
“Most lending has two pieces of a puzzle – you have credit, and you have debt to income. If they don’t fit together, then you don’t get the loan,” he explains. “With First Oklahoma Bank, especially in the commercial department, there were more pieces to consider.”
The bank looked beyond just the numbers when it came to real estate investment, considering:
- Credit score
- Debt-to-income ratio
- Banking relationship potential
- Project viability
- Long-term business prospects
Supporting Entrepreneurial Growth
This comprehensive approach proved transformative for Meriwether. When he started, he was working a full-time job while pursuing real estate on the side.
First Oklahoma Bank’s support enabled him to transition into full-time real estate investment and development.
“They were able to work with me and help me buy properties and do flips, so much so that I was eventually able to leave that position and go full time into what I love to do,” he shares.
The Power of Accessibility
For Meriwether, the relationship goes beyond just financial services.
He has direct access to his banking team, including his lender Eric’s cell phone number, ensuring quick responses when needed.
This level of access has been crucial for his business operations, allowing him to move quickly on new opportunities.
Technology Meets Personal Service
While maintaining personal relationships, First Oklahoma Bank also provides modern banking solutions.
Meriwether particularly appreciates their treasury management services, which helped streamline his payment collection processes through ACH solutions.
“First Oklahoma Bank was able to give me software that I was able to use and collect ACH’s from people automatically,” he notes.
Community Impact and "Spiritual Capital"
One unique aspect of First Oklahoma Bank’s approach is their concept of “spiritual capital.”
As Meriwether explains, “Eric will tell me when we’re doing transactions, he wants to know what he calls ‘spiritual capital.’ He wants to know what I’m doing and how what I’m doing is making Tulsa and the world a better place, because they want to partner with people who are doing that.”
Growing Together
First Oklahoma Bank has proven to be the ideal partner for Meriwether’s evolving business needs.
“First Oklahoma bank is small enough to where you matter, but big enough to where they can grow with you and continue to help you grow and have all the products and services that a big bank will offer,” he reflects.
From his first commercial loan in 2012 to his current portfolio of real estate investment properties, Meriwether has found in First Oklahoma Bank a partner that understands both the financial and human aspects of business growth.
“Capital is the lifeblood of our business,” he says, “and knowing that we have money available to go out and buy the next property allows us to be confident when we write our offer to that seller.”
This confidence, built on a decade of partnership, continues to fuel Meriwether’s success in Tulsa’s real estate market, demonstrating the lasting value of relationship-based banking in today’s fast-paced business environment.