QUESTION: What is the difference between the big bank and these local banks that are in trouble?”

BEVERAGE: “Oklahoma is made up of small community banks focused almost exclusively on the success of their local communities. The median size bank in Oklahoma has $75 million in assets. That’s a very small bank on a global scale. Even though banks such as Bank of American and J.P. Morgan-Chase are branches of Wall Street money center locations, they still employ Oklahoma bankers and my guess is they fall right in line with these guys in caring for people in their local communities.

“Bank of Oklahoma is the largest bank in the state and it is a well-capitalized, strong, well-run bank. You don’t have problems with that institution. On a global scale, it is pretty much a community bank.

“With J.P. Morgan-Chase, Bank of Oklahoma, any of these banks here, or the state’s smallest bank, as far as your readers’ money is concerned, it doesn’t matter which bank it is. It’s all insured by FDIC and backed by the strength in the capital of the banks, which exceeds a trillion and a half dollars.

QUESTION: So, do you support increasing FDIC insurance from $100,000 to $250,000?

BEVERAGE: “It’s a good idea on a temporary basis. It sends a good message to the public on the strength of the industry. If it is done on a permanent basis, most bankers will tell you they don’t know if that it’s necessary.”

QUESTION: “Have you changed the way in which you give loans? Are you being stricter?”

TAYLOR: “I think underwriting has tightened somewhat. Loan applications are being scrutinized more than they have been But we continue to fund many, many loans in the community.”

CONDLEY: “We have adequate cash in our fund for good quality loans. We have very few loans that are significantly past due.”

QUESTION: “Has the housing crisis or economy elsewhere affected the way you do business?”

CONDLEY: It has not affected the way we do business. We have not seen a liquidity crunch — liquidity being defined as cash. Our deposits are growing.”

QUESTION: What products at the bank will give me the greatest yield?

TAYLOR: Certificates of Deposit. They pay higher rates. The yield depends on what instrument you desire. There are a whole range of rates and yields out there, depending on what your desires are.”

ABERNATHY: “Most banks are looking for good loans.”

CONDLEY: “In eastern Oklahoma, I have not seen a significant decline in interest rates for CDs.