Tulsa Modern Dental
Tulsa Modern Dental
When You Don't Know What You Don't Know
Starting a business is never easy, but for many professionals, the financial side can feel completely overwhelming.
Dr. Mariam Hanna, owner of Tulsa Modern Dental, knows this challenge firsthand. When she decided to open her own practice over nine years ago, she quickly discovered that dental school had taught her everything about being a dentist—but nothing about running a business!
This is where a relationship with First Oklahoma Bank began to make all the difference.
“First Oklahoma Bank gave me the blueprint of what I needed for a successful business,” Dr. Hanna says. “I didn’t know what I needed. I didn’t know what was required. And even the accountants sometimes, if they’re not really specialized in dental practices, don’t know.”
Breast Cancer Diagnosis
The true test of any banking relationship comes during difficult times.
In fall 2023, Dr. Hanna was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer. While facing this personal health crisis, her immediate concern was how treatment would affect her practice and her ability to meet her financial obligations.
“The first thing I thought of is, how am I going to pay my mortgage on this practice?” she recalls. “I knew that the chemo and the radiation would slow down my production.”
Her call to First Oklahoma Bank resulted in immediate support. Without hesitation, the team offered to pause her loan payments entirely, ultimately agreeing to reduce payments by half during her treatment period. The relief was immense.
“When you own a business, your practice loan is your biggest expense,” Dr. Hanna explains. “It was just a huge burden that was lifted, not having to worry about that or, God forbid, defaulting or getting behind on mortgage payments.”
Honest Advice, Even When It Costs the Bank
Perhaps the most telling example of true partnership came when Dr. Hanna was considering a significant expansion.
After reviewing the numbers for a much larger building, her loan officer was completely honest about the financial implications.
“She said, ‘We’re happy to loan you for this building, but here are the numbers. Do you really want to do it, or do you want to sleep on it?'” Dr. Hanna remembers. “The bank stood to make a lot more money than my current loan, but it wasn’t about that for her. She knew my responsibilities as a mom and a wife, and she knew that it would probably put me in a pinch.”
That honesty led Dr. Hanna to withdraw from the contract – a decision that was financially better for her, even though it meant less business for First Oklahoma Bank.
More Than Banking: Building Community
Today, Dr. Hanna’s practice is thriving. She’s cancer-free, her family is doing well, and her business has grown beyond her expectations.
Her office even features two therapy dogs that have become beloved fixtures, helping patients overcome dental anxiety—a reflection of the family-centered, community-focused approach that defines both her practice and her banking relationship.
The story comes full circle when other dental colleagues ask for recommendations. Dr. Hanna always refers them to First Oklahoma Bank, knowing they’ll receive the same blueprint for success that helped launch her own journey.