Sustainability
Our green commitment
MidFirst Bank is committed to conserving our natural resources. Throughout our organization, many projects have been implemented that are having a positive influence on our environment.
- Recycling programs for paper and obsolete technology equipment, as well as programs that include ink and toner cartridges, plastic and aluminum are reducing landfill waste.
- MidFirst Bank's tobacco free campus prohibits the use of any tobacco product both indoors and outdoors, creating a healthier working environment.
- The Bank's consolidated corporate campus minimizes the need for employees to travel to other locations, reducing the use of fuel and carbon emissions from vehicles.
- Video conferencing equipment, installed in all corporate buildings and 40% of banking centers, reduces travel.
- MidFirst provides up to 250% more green space, trees and plants than required by building codes, which reduces pollution and the urban heat island effect, increases oxygen and provides a better environment for our communities. Furthermore, planting of robust, native-grown trees and shrubs helps to offset our carbon footprint.
- An investment in bipolar ionization in all corporate buildings and banking centers improves air quality for our employees and customers.
- In 2016, MidFirst implemented a program that captures and relocates wild bee swarms to bee-deficient areas, increasing the colonies' survival rate by five times over other methods of capture. The success of this program has grown exponentially since being implemented, with more than 220 colonies relocated to date.
- The Bank currently has more than $87 million in loan commitments to sustainability initiatives – either through direct loans to companies who are engaged in creating a more sustainable environment or through the financing of sustainability projects.
- Loan commitments in excess of $109 million are in place for companies or initiatives focused on improving the lives of under-served or disabled communities.
Achievements
Reduced energy usage by 21% between 2010 and 20201 | We have reduced our energy usage with multiple changes to our building systems, including upgrading equipment, automation and conversion to LED lighting. |
Reduced water usage by 22% between 2010 and 20202 | We have reduced water usage with changes to our buildings and irrigation practices. |
Reduced office paper consumption by 56% per employee and 45% per customer between 2010 and 2020 (Office paper consumption has been reduced by 33% overall) | We have reduced paper usage by encouraging paper conservation and duplex printing, providing dual monitors, as well as offering electronic documents and electronic signing capability. |
1Reduced energy usage by 21% between 2010 and 2020 for the buildings owned in 2010. When including the buildings added since 2010, a 60% growth in square footage, energy usage per square foot was reduced by 8% over the 10-year period.
2Reduced water usage by 22% between 2010 and 2020 for the buildings owned in 2010. When including the buildings added since 2010, a 60% growth in square footage, water usage per square foot was reduced by 30% over the 10-year period.
Achievements Detail
*Assumes 2010 base year
Reduced Energy Utilization Achievements | Year Completed/Target Year | % Complete | |
Reduced energy usage by 21% | We have reduced energy usage by 21% since 2010 with multiple changes to our building systems. | ||
Installed programmable thermostats or automated controls in all banking centers | 2018 | This technology provides energy savings of approximately 20%. | 100% |
Installed automated controls on 50% of corporate building HVAC systems | 2020 | Controls and conversions of existing systems are ongoing, providing energy savings of 15% compared to those without | 100% |
Installed make-up air units in all corporate buildings (where applicable) | 2021 | These systems recirculate conditioned air providing an energy savings of 15% compared to those without | 100% |
Upgrading chillers to higher efficiency units | 2024 | Upgraded units are providing savings of 15% in energy consumption compared to older units. | 66% |
Conversion of HVAC systems from R-22 to R-410A Freon | 2025 | All units in Oklahoma have been replaced, and remaining units in other markets will be replaced at end of life. Converting to the new R-410A Freon eliminates ozone damage from R-22 leaks and reduces energy costs with a more efficient coolant. | 70% |
Convert all lighting to motion sensors or automated controls | 2030 | Conversions of old system are ongoing, reducing energy costs by shutting lights off when not in use. | 35% |
Convert all lighting to LED | 2030 | Construction, renovation and conversions of existing fixtures to LED is ongoing, reducing lighting costs by 23% over fluorescent bulbs and reducing waste due to a longer life. | 50% |
Install geothermal units in new construction | 2030 | Installed geothermal HVAC units in new banking center construction since 2011. | Ongoing |
Reduced Water Utilization Achievements | Year Completed/Target Year | % Complete | |
Reduced water usage by 22% | We have reduced energy usage by 22% since 2010 with changes to building and irrigation practices. | ||
Watering of lawns 100% at night | 2013 | All watering occurs at night to reduce water waste from evaporation. | 100% |
Irrigation utilizes short duration cycles | 2015 | Irrigation systems are programmed to utilize multiple short duration cycles to reduce or eliminate runoff. | 100% |
Converted all toilets and urinals to limited water consumption models | 2015 | All toilets have been upgraded. Compared to standard toilets, these lower the Bank's water usage by more than 1.1 million gallons annually. | 100% |
Convert all faucets to touchless | 2025 | All new faucets installed are touchless with motion sensor, and existing non-touchless faucets are being converted. | 65% |
In Arizona, drought resistant plant species are being utilized in landscaping | Ongoing | Planting of indigenous drought-resistant plant species and xeriscaping practices reduces water consumption. | Ongoing |
Reduced Paper Consumption Achievements | Year Completed/Target Year | % Complete | |
Reduced overall office paper consumption by 33% | We have reduced paper usage by 33% overall, 56% per employee and 45% per customer since 2010. Total paper saved per year is 147,000 pounds, which is the equivalent of saving 1,259 trees annually. | ||
Electronic Invoicing | 2025 | Introduced in 2002, electronic invoicing allows signing and routing of invoicing without the need to print. | Ongoing |
eStatements | 2011 | The Bank migrated most customers to eStatements, eliminating the need to print and send paper statements. | 100% |
Online Banking | 2011 | The Bank migrated most customers to online banking services, reducing physical paper transactions. | 100% |
Promote duplex printing and 30% recycled paper | 2011 | Promote paper conservation and duplex printing across the enterprise. | 100% |
Provide dual monitors to employees | 2013 | Dual monitors are available for employees upon request. This reduces the need to print paper during analysis or performing other similar tasks. | 100% |
Digital signing of documents | 2016 | DocuSign was expanded to all departments in 2020, allowing users to sign documents digitally. | 100% |
Current Initiatives
Assumes 2020 base year
Target Year | Status | |
Reduce energy usage by additional 10% (increasing the reduction to 31% since 2010) | 2025 | Continue to upgrade building systems to improve energy efficiency. |
Reduce water usage by additional 10% (increasing the reduction to 32% since 2010) | 2025 | Continue to make building and landscape upgrades, and implement best practices to reduce water usage. |
Reduce office paper consumption by additional 15% overall (increasing the reduction to 48% since 2010) | 2025 | Continue to promote paper conservation and leverage digital technology to reduce printing. |
Current Initiatives Detail
Assumes 2012 base year
Reduced Energy Usage Current Initiatives | Target Year | |
Reduce energy usage by additional 10% (31% reduction since 2010) | Continue previous initiatives of converting to more energy-efficient systems and lighting | |
Upgrading chillers to higher efficiency units | 2024 | Upgraded units are providing savings of 15% in energy consumption compared to older units |
Conversion of HVAC systems from R-22 to R-410A Freon | 2025 | All units in Oklahoma have been replaced, and remaining units in other markets will be replaced at end of life. |
Convert all lighting to motion sensors or automated controls | 2030 | Conversions of old systems are ongoing. |
Install geothermal units in new construction | Ongoing | Installed geothermal HVAC units in new banking center construction since 2011. |
Reduced Water Usage Current Initiatives | Target Year | |
Reduce water usage by additional 10% (32% reduction since 2010) | Continue best irrigation practices, as well as continue conversion to touchless faucets. | |
Continue management of irrigating to reduce water usage | 2022 | Manage length of watering cycles, upgrade systems to eliminate watering if natural rainfall occurs, and reduce runoff or unnecessary watering. |
Convert all faucets to touchless | 2025 | All new faucets installed are touchless with motion sensor, and conversion of existing faucets is ongoing. |
Reduced Paper Usage Current Initiatives | Target Year | |
Reduce overall paper consumption by additional 15% (48% reduction since 2010) | Continue promoting digital statements and transactions for customers, as well as encouraging paper reduction in the office by providing digital technologies that minimize the need to print. | |
Continue promoting conserving paper and limiting printing | Ongoing | MidFirst will continue to deploy additional monitors to employees, and actively encourage duplex printing and paper conservation. |
Seventy percent of MidFirst customers receive electronic statements | Ongoing | The majority of MidFirst customers receive their statement and other account information electronically, reducing paper, postage and the likelihood of mail fraud. |
Continue promoting DocuSign and digital invoicing to increase adoption rate | Ongoing | MidFirst will continue to encourage use of DocuSign and digital invoicing for all departments. |
Achievements Detail
*Assumes 2010 base year
Reduced energy usage by 21%
We have reduced energy usage by 21% since 2010 with multiple changes to our building systems.
Installed programmable thermostats or automated controls in all banking centers
This technology provides energy savings of approximately 20%.
Year completed — 2018
Installed automated controls on 50% of corporate building HVAC systems
Controls and conversions of existing systems are ongoing, providing energy savings of 15% compared to those without.
Year completed — 2020
Installed make-up air units in all corporate buildings (where applicable)
These systems recirculate conditioned air providing an energy savings of 15% compared to those without
Year completed — 2021
Upgrading chillers to higher efficiency units
Upgraded units are providing savings of 15% in energy consumption compared to older units.
Target Year — 2024
66% Completed
Conversion of HVAC systems from R-22 to R-410A Freon
All units in Oklahoma have been replaced, and remaining units in other markets will be replaced at end of life. Converting to the new R-410A Freon eliminates ozone damage from R-22 leaks and reduces energy costs with a more efficient coolant.
Target Year — 2025
70% Completed
Convert all lighting to motion sensors or automated controls
Conversions of old system are ongoing, reducing energy costs by shutting lights off when not in use.
Target Year — 2030
35% Completed
Convert all lighting to LED
Construction, renovation and conversions of existing fixtures to LED is ongoing, reducing lighting costs by 23% over fluorescent bulbs and reducing waste due to a longer life.
Target Year — 2030
50% Completed
Install geothermal units in new construction
Installed geothermal HVAC units in new banking center construction since 2011.
Target Year — 2030
Ongoing