# First United Bank & Trust (Spend Life Wisely Company): AI strategy

Source: https://www.bankingnewsai.com/banks/first-united
Last updated: Oct 25, 2026

*A family-controlled, purpose-driven Oklahoma and Texas bank whose transformation leader wants technology to be 'an enterprise capability' connected to strategy, data and risk, and who says 'modernisation cannot flatten the human character of community banking'; its officer roster includes a director of AI program strategy and execution, and a senior executive told Southeastern Oklahoma State University in December 2025 that the bank 'currently integrates AI in three key areas: process improvement, user experience, and leadership development', but no AI vendor, model, tool or budget has been disclosed.*

## How is First United Bank using AI?

First United Bank & Trust, the Durant, Oklahoma bank owned by the Massey family's Spend Life Wisely Company, serves more than 362,000 customers through what it calls 75 community banking locations across Oklahoma and Texas (FDIC lists 80 offices, 74 of them full-service branches) with about $16.3 billion of assets and a stated purpose 'to inspire and empower others to Spend Life Wisely' through four pillars of faith, financial well-being, health and wellness, and personal growth. Its technology stance comes from Tadd Tobkin, executive vice president and chief technology officer (described in a 2026 interview as its transformation leader), who describes four years of moving technology 'from a support function to more of an enterprise capability' that 'connects our strategy to our operating model, our data, our risk, and our digital experience', and who prefers 'evolution' to 'transformation' because 'the evolution is just speeding up'; modernisation, he says, 'cannot flatten the human character of community banking' and should help bankers serve customers 'better, faster, and with more insight'. Chairman and CEO Greg Massey's 2025 letter describes a year of 'steady progress' in which teams 'advanced the systems and capabilities that support how we work' and aligned 'technology, talent, and processes to operate more effectively as one enterprise', while improving capital and asset quality; the Massey family has also filed to consolidate ownership through a trust (a change-in-control notice for the Gregory L. Massey 2026 Irrevocable Trust published by the Federal Reserve in April 2026). Customer-facing AI content is cautious: a guide to ChatGPT privacy risks, a guide to cybersecurity threats for 2026 that flags AI-personalised scams, a warning to business owners about 'AI-generated fake invoices', plus an ISO 20022 payments explainer for businesses. The bank does have an AI function on paper: the officer roster in its 2025 impact report lists Jay Liles as senior vice president and director of AI program strategy and execution, alongside an analytics team led by a director of analytics with a data scientist and a senior data engineer, a senior data engineering manager and a Salesforce platform team in IT, and a chief information security officer; Justin Sanderson serves as senior vice president and chief transformation officer. As a private company it publishes no 10-K and holds no earnings calls. The one statement on AI in operations came from Melissa Perrin, executive vice president and chief culture and communication officer, who told Southeastern Oklahoma State University in December 2025 that the bank 'currently integrates AI in three key areas: process improvement, user experience, and leadership development'; the bank is a named partner in the university's State Regents-funded AI literacy and workforce programme, and it has not named an AI vendor, model, tool or budget. First United Bank & Trust is an Oklahoma state member bank supervised by the Federal Reserve.

*Thin public record: A privately held bank with no SEC filings or earnings calls; beyond an officer title for AI program strategy and execution, an analytics team, a technology chief's interview and one sentence naming three areas where it uses AI, it has named no AI vendor, model, tool or spend.*

## At a glance

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Lead bank | First United Bank & Trust |
| Ticker | private (Spend Life Wisely Co.) |
| Headquarters | Durant, OK |
| Consolidated assets | $16,594 million |
| Federal Reserve rank | 104 |
| Charter | Oklahoma state member bank (Federal Reserve); privately held |

## What AI partnerships and patents does First United Bank have?

First United names one AI-related partner: Southeastern Oklahoma State University, whose State Regents-funded 'Southeastern AI' project lists the bank in its community engagement and workforce readiness strand for AI literacy and training. Its fintech investment, Finotta, supplies a personalised-guidance platform that neither company describes as AI. No AI lab, cloud or GPU vendor is named, and a Google Patents assignee search for the bank and its holding company found no filings. ([Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.se.edu/2025/12/southeastern-awarded-500000-grant-from-state-regents-for-ai-programs/), [PR Newswire (Finotta)](https://prnewswire.com/news-releases/finotta-partners-with-first-united-bank--trust-for-investment-and-launch-of-personalization-technology-301477906.html))

| Item | What it is | Status | Date | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State University | Community engagement and workforce readiness strand of the 'Southeastern AI' project (AI literacy and training); First United is a named partner and describes its own AI use in the endorsement | Announced | 2025-12-04 | [Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.se.edu/2025/12/southeastern-awarded-500000-grant-from-state-regents-for-ai-programs/) |
| Finotta (Personified) | Personalised guidance platform co-developed with the bank, which filled the $3 million seed round; live to all digital customers 8 November 2022; releases do not call it AI | In production | 2022-11-08 | [PR Newswire (Finotta)](https://prnewswire.com/news-releases/finotta-partners-with-first-united-bank--trust-for-investment-and-launch-of-personalization-technology-301477906.html), [FinTech Futures (Business Wire release)](https://fintechfutures.com/press-releases/first-united-bank-successfully-rolls-out-finotta-to-customers-sees-120-new-savings-accounts-within-first-24-hours), [American Banker](https://americanbanker.com/news/financial-health-app-brings-community-bank-400-account-leads-in-30-days) |

## Key points

- Technology as 'an enterprise capability' linking strategy, operating model, data, risk and digital experience, led by EVP and chief technology officer Tadd Tobkin.
- Officer roster (2025 impact report) names an SVP, Director of AI Program Strategy & Execution (Jay Liles) and an analytics team with a data scientist and data engineers; a chief transformation officer (Justin Sanderson) sits on the executive team.
- Modernisation 'cannot flatten the human character of community banking'; it should help bankers serve customers 'better, faster, and with more insight'.
- 2025 impact report: systems and capabilities advanced; technology, talent and processes aligned 'as one enterprise'; capital and asset quality improved.
- Customer AI content is defensive: ChatGPT privacy risks, 2026 cybersecurity threats including AI-driven scams, AI-generated fake invoices; ISO 20022 guidance for businesses.
- Scale: 362,000-plus customers, 75 community banking locations by the bank's count (80 offices in FDIC data, 74 full-service; 85 domestic offices on the June 2026 call report), about $16.3 billion of assets; Massey family control via Spend Life Wisely Company.
- Private company: no 10-K and no earnings calls; no AI vendor, model, tool or budget disclosed.
- December 2025: executive vice president Melissa Perrin said First United 'currently integrates AI in three key areas: process improvement, user experience, and leadership development', in a letter backing Southeastern Oklahoma State University's $500,000 State Regents AI grant, in which the bank is a named partner for AI literacy and workforce training.
- FDIC call report at 30 June 2026: $16.59 billion of assets, $13.33 billion of deposits, 85 domestic offices and 1,886 employees (1,945 at end-2023); first-half net income $75.2 million and return on assets 0.92%.
- The AI function is new on the roster: the 2024 impact report lists one analytics officer (a director) and no AI role; the 2025 report adds Jay Liles as SVP, Director of AI Program Strategy & Execution, plus a data scientist and a senior data engineer in analytics.
- Named vendors are not AI vendors: Q2 supplies the digital banking platform, Jack Henry ran a Global Security implementation (2022), and the 2025 roster shows a Salesforce platform team; none is publicly tied to AI.
- First United filled the $3 million seed round of Finotta in 2021 and in November 2022 became the first bank to launch its Personified guidance platform, which produced savings referrals at 20 times a branch's rate; neither company calls it AI.

## Timeline

- Sep 10, 2026 — **Business fraud-awareness guidance** 'Technology can provide important safeguards, but one of the strongest lines of defense is an informed team'; names phishing, business email compromise and fraudulent invoices. ([First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/protect-what-youve-built-creating-fraud-aware-business))
- Aug 11, 2026 — **Transformation leader on technology as enterprise capability** Evolution over transformation; modern capabilities for a community bank. ([Interface / FinTech Strategy (B2E Media)](https://interface.media/blog/executiveinsights/first-united-bank-combining-community-banking-values-with-modern-technology))
- Jun 30, 2026 — **FDIC call report: $16.59 billion of assets, 1,886 employees** Deposits $13.33 billion, 85 domestic offices; headcount down from 1,945 at end-2023. ([FDIC](https://api.fdic.gov/banks/financials?filters=CERT%3A4239%20AND%20REPDTE%3A%5B20231231%20TO%2020260630%5D&fields=REPDTE,ASSET,DEP,NETINC,ROA,ROE,NUMEMP&sort_by=REPDTE&sort_order=ASC&limit=20), [FDIC](https://api.fdic.gov/banks/institutions?filters=CERT%3A4239&fields=CERT,NAME,OFFDOM,NAMEHCR,REGAGNT,ASSET,DEP,REPDTE))
- Apr 23, 2026 — **Massey family trust change-in-control notice** Federal Reserve notice for the Gregory L. Massey 2026 Irrevocable Trust to join the Massey Family Group controlling Spend Life Wisely Company. ([Federal Register (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System)](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/23/2026-07976/change-in-bank-control-notices-acquisitions-of-shares-of-a-bank-or-bank-holding-company))
- Mar 20, 2026 — **Business Fraud Risk Calculator earns a MarCom gold award** The bank says the calculator draws on data from its own account information and 2024 AFP statistics. ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94), [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/business/fraud-calculator))
- Mar 20, 2026 — **Impact report names risk, security and operations owners** Chief risk officer Saqib Kheiri (risk analytics, information security), CISO Joe Greene, COO Tim Schneider (oversees IT), an SVP of engineering and chief architect and a Salesforce platform team. ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94))
- Mar 20, 2026 — **Officer roster names a director of AI program strategy and execution** Alongside an analytics team (director, data scientist, data engineer) and a data-engineering and Salesforce platform bench in IT. ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94))
- Mar 20, 2026 — **2025 impact report** 125th year; systems and capabilities advanced; one-enterprise alignment. ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94))
- Jan 21, 2026 — **2026 cybersecurity threats guide** Layered security and multi-factor authentication for customers. ([First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/cybersecurity-threats-rise-2026-what-you-can-do-protect-what-matters-most))
- Dec 31, 2025 — **Year-end 2025: capital and asset quality improved** Disciplined performance in a changing environment. ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94))
- Dec 4, 2025 — **State Regents fund Southeastern AI; First United backs AI workforce strand** Perrin says the bank 'currently integrates AI in three key areas: process improvement, user experience, and leadership development'; the grant is about $500,000 of $3.4 million awarded to seven institutions. ([Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.se.edu/2025/12/southeastern-awarded-500000-grant-from-state-regents-for-ai-programs/))
- Nov 13, 2025 — **Business owners warned about AI-generated fake invoices** Fraud 'became more sophisticated' in 2025; staff training and vendor-payment checks recommended. ([First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/business-lessons-2025-will-shape-2026))
- Aug 5, 2025 — **ChatGPT privacy risks guide for customers** How AI tools store and may expose shared information. ([First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/chatgpt-privacy-risks-protecting-sensitive-information-digital-age))
- Jun 30, 2025 — **ISO 20022 payments guidance for businesses** Structured payment data and the Fedwire transition. ([First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/understanding-iso-20022-preparing-future-payments))
- Mar 31, 2025 — **2024 impact report: analytics bench of one, no AI role** Lists a director of analytics only, with a chief architect, a senior data engineering manager and a CISO already in post (report date approximate). ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/annual_impact_report_2024.pdf?VersionId=JVO4LQPn6SUQlGI.GAj6nI194b8pDXdM))
- Nov 8, 2022 — **Personified launches to all digital banking customers** 120 savings-account referrals in the first 24 hours, 400-plus in 30 days and acquisition cost down 86% in the first week, per Finotta; no AI claim is made. ([FinTech Futures (Business Wire release)](https://fintechfutures.com/press-releases/first-united-bank-successfully-rolls-out-finotta-to-customers-sees-120-new-savings-accounts-within-first-24-hours), [American Banker](https://americanbanker.com/news/financial-health-app-brings-community-bank-400-account-leads-in-30-days))
- May 18, 2022 — **Jack Henry case study on Global Security implementation** Jack Henry's consulting group ran the Xperience Global Security project; the bank's SVP and director of IT said it improved user access controls. ([Jack Henry](https://www.jackhenry.com/hubfs/resources/case-studies/jh-case-study-operations-professional-services-consulting-first-united-bank.pdf))
- Feb 8, 2022 — **Finotta partnership: First United fills the $3 million seed round** First United became the first customer of Finotta's Personified mobile-banking personalisation platform and, per Finotta, invested the whole seed round in autumn 2021. ([PR Newswire (Finotta)](https://prnewswire.com/news-releases/finotta-partners-with-first-united-bank--trust-for-investment-and-launch-of-personalization-technology-301477906.html))

## Where AI runs

| Use case | What | Status | Detail | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [AI governance (general)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#governance-general) | Technology as enterprise capability | In production | Strategy, operating model, data, risk and digital experience connected under one programme. | [Interface / FinTech Strategy (B2E Media)](https://interface.media/blog/executiveinsights/first-united-bank-combining-community-banking-values-with-modern-technology) |
| [Cybersecurity](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#cybersecurity) | Customer cybersecurity and AI-privacy education | In production | ChatGPT privacy risks, layered security and multi-factor authentication against AI-driven scams. | [First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/chatgpt-privacy-risks-protecting-sensitive-information-digital-age), [First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/cybersecurity-threats-rise-2026-what-you-can-do-protect-what-matters-most) |
| [AI governance (general)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#governance-general) | AI program strategy and execution function | Announced | A named SVP-level director of AI program strategy and execution and an analytics team; no AI use case, model or vendor disclosed. | [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94) |
| [Fraud detection](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#fraud) | Business fraud education: AI-generated fake invoices | In production | Guidance to train staff, update cybersecurity systems and review vendor-payment protocols. | [First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/business-lessons-2025-will-shape-2026) |
| [Third-party & vendor AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#third-party-vendors) | ISO 20022 payments readiness | In production | Business guidance on structured payment data. | [First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/understanding-iso-20022-preparing-future-payments) |
| [Generative & agentic AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#generative-agentic-ai) | AI in process improvement, user experience and leadership development | In production | Stated by executive vice president Melissa Perrin in December 2025; no tool, vendor or model is named. | [Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.se.edu/2025/12/southeastern-awarded-500000-grant-from-state-regents-for-ai-programs/) |
| [AI governance (general)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#governance-general) | Regional AI literacy and workforce training with Southeastern | Announced | First United is a named partner in the university's State Regents-funded community engagement and workforce readiness strand. | [Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.se.edu/2025/12/southeastern-awarded-500000-grant-from-state-regents-for-ai-programs/) |
| [Third-party & vendor AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#third-party-vendors) | Finotta Personified guidance platform | In production | Co-developed with the bank, launched to all digital customers on 8 November 2022; personalised guidance and savings referrals, not described as AI. | [PR Newswire (Finotta)](https://prnewswire.com/news-releases/finotta-partners-with-first-united-bank--trust-for-investment-and-launch-of-personalization-technology-301477906.html), [FinTech Futures (Business Wire release)](https://fintechfutures.com/press-releases/first-united-bank-successfully-rolls-out-finotta-to-customers-sees-120-new-savings-accounts-within-first-24-hours), [American Banker](https://americanbanker.com/news/financial-health-app-brings-community-bank-400-account-leads-in-30-days) |
| [Cybersecurity](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#cybersecurity) | Jack Henry Xperience Global Security | In production | User access control project run with Jack Henry's consulting group in 2022. | [Jack Henry](https://www.jackhenry.com/hubfs/resources/case-studies/jh-case-study-operations-professional-services-consulting-first-united-bank.pdf) |
| [Fraud detection](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#fraud) | Business Fraud Risk Calculator | In production | Self-assessment tool for business customers built on the bank's account data and AFP statistics; companion guidance recommends AI-driven anomaly detection and staff training. | [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/business/fraud-calculator), [First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/how-shield-your-business-ai-generated-fraud), [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94) |

## Disclosed numbers

| Measure | Value | As of | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Customers / community banking locations (bank's description) | > 362,000 / 75 | Aug 11, 2026 | [Interface / FinTech Strategy (B2E Media)](https://interface.media/blog/executiveinsights/first-united-bank-combining-community-banking-values-with-modern-technology) |
| Offices in FDIC data / full-service branches | 80 / 74 (Texas 43, Oklahoma 37 offices); 85 domestic offices on the 30 June 2026 call report | Jun 30, 2026 | [FDIC](https://api.fdic.gov/banks/locations?filters=CERT%3A4239&fields=STALP,SERVTYPE,OFFNAME&limit=1000), [FDIC](https://api.fdic.gov/banks/institutions?filters=CERT%3A4239&fields=CERT,NAME,OFFDOM,NAMEHCR,REGAGNT,ASSET,DEP,REPDTE) |
| Total assets | ≈ $16.3 billion | Aug 11, 2026 | [Interface / FinTech Strategy (B2E Media)](https://interface.media/blog/executiveinsights/first-united-bank-combining-community-banking-values-with-modern-technology) |
| Years in operation | 125 (in 2025) | Mar 20, 2026 | [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94) |
| Total assets (FDIC call report) | $16.59 billion | Jun 30, 2026 | [FDIC](https://api.fdic.gov/banks/financials?filters=CERT%3A4239%20AND%20REPDTE%3A%5B20231231%20TO%2020260630%5D&fields=REPDTE,ASSET,DEP,NETINC,ROA,ROE,NUMEMP&sort_by=REPDTE&sort_order=ASC&limit=20) |
| Total deposits (FDIC call report) | $13.33 billion (end-2023: $12.79 billion) | Jun 30, 2026 | [FDIC](https://api.fdic.gov/banks/financials?filters=CERT%3A4239%20AND%20REPDTE%3A%5B20231231%20TO%2020260630%5D&fields=REPDTE,ASSET,DEP,NETINC,ROA,ROE,NUMEMP&sort_by=REPDTE&sort_order=ASC&limit=20) |
| Employees (FDIC call report) | 1,886 (end-2023: 1,945) | Jun 30, 2026 | [FDIC](https://api.fdic.gov/banks/financials?filters=CERT%3A4239%20AND%20REPDTE%3A%5B20231231%20TO%2020260630%5D&fields=REPDTE,ASSET,DEP,NETINC,ROA,ROE,NUMEMP&sort_by=REPDTE&sort_order=ASC&limit=20) |
| First-half net income / return on assets / return on equity | $75.2 million / 0.92% / 9.48% | Jun 30, 2026 | [FDIC](https://api.fdic.gov/banks/financials?filters=CERT%3A4239%20AND%20REPDTE%3A%5B20231231%20TO%2020260630%5D&fields=REPDTE,ASSET,DEP,NETINC,ROA,ROE,NUMEMP&sort_by=REPDTE&sort_order=ASC&limit=20) |
| Full-year 2025 net income / return on assets / return on equity | $159.2 million / 0.97% / 10.87% | Dec 31, 2025 | [FDIC](https://api.fdic.gov/banks/financials?filters=CERT%3A4239%20AND%20REPDTE%3A%5B20231231%20TO%2020260630%5D&fields=REPDTE,ASSET,DEP,NETINC,ROA,ROE,NUMEMP&sort_by=REPDTE&sort_order=ASC&limit=20) |
| Retail accounts and deposits | 342,000-plus accounts (+60% since July 2022); deposits $12.8 billion (+14%) | Mar 31, 2024 | [American Banker](https://americanbanker.com/news/layna-dupuis-first-united-bank-next-2024) |
| Southeastern AI grant (First United a named partner) | about $500,000, one of seven awards totalling $3.4 million | Dec 4, 2025 | [Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.se.edu/2025/12/southeastern-awarded-500000-grant-from-state-regents-for-ai-programs/) |
| Named analytics officers in the impact report | 3 in the 2025 report (director, data scientist, senior data engineer) versus 1 in the 2024 report | Mar 20, 2026 | [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94), [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/annual_impact_report_2024.pdf?VersionId=JVO4LQPn6SUQlGI.GAj6nI194b8pDXdM) |

## Quotes

> "The focus has been moving technology from a support function to more of an enterprise capability. One that connects our strategy to our operating model, our data, our risk, and our digital experience." — Tadd Tobkin, Executive Vice President, Aug 11, 2026 ([Interface / FinTech Strategy (B2E Media)](https://interface.media/blog/executiveinsights/first-united-bank-combining-community-banking-values-with-modern-technology))

> "Our teams made steady progress aligning technology, talent, and processes to operate more effectively as one enterprise." — Greg Massey, Chairman and CEO, Mar 20, 2026 ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94))

> "First United Bank currently integrates AI in three key areas: process improvement, user experience, and leadership development." — Melissa Perrin, Executive Vice President and Chief Culture and Communication Officer, Dec 4, 2025 ([Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.se.edu/2025/12/southeastern-awarded-500000-grant-from-state-regents-for-ai-programs/))

> "It's more about evolution than transformation and the evolution is just speeding up." — Tadd Tobkin, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Aug 11, 2026 ([Interface / FinTech Strategy (B2E Media)](https://interface.media/blog/executiveinsights/first-united-bank-combining-community-banking-values-with-modern-technology))

> "Modernisation cannot flatten the human character of community banking." — Tadd Tobkin, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Aug 11, 2026 ([Interface / FinTech Strategy (B2E Media)](https://interface.media/blog/executiveinsights/first-united-bank-combining-community-banking-values-with-modern-technology))

## Who runs AI

- **Greg Massey** — Chairman and CEO ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-massey)) ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94))
- **Tadd Tobkin** — Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/taddtobkin)) ([Interface / FinTech Strategy (B2E Media)](https://interface.media/blog/executiveinsights/first-united-bank-combining-community-banking-values-with-modern-technology), [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/tadd-tobkin), [First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/our-team))
- **Justin Sanderson** — Senior Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwsanderson)) ([First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/our-team), [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94))
- **Jay Liles** — Senior Vice President, Director of AI Program Strategy & Execution ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94))
- **Tim Schneider** — Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (loan operations, deposit operations, information technology) ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/timothy-schneider), [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94), [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/annual_impact_report_2024.pdf?VersionId=JVO4LQPn6SUQlGI.GAj6nI194b8pDXdM))
- **Saqib Kheiri** — Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer (enterprise risk, compliance, information security, risk analytics) ([First United Bank](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/our-team), [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94))
- **Joe Greene** — Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94), [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/annual_impact_report_2024.pdf?VersionId=JVO4LQPn6SUQlGI.GAj6nI194b8pDXdM))
- **Vinay Menon** — Senior Vice President, Engineering and Chief Architect ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94), [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/annual_impact_report_2024.pdf?VersionId=JVO4LQPn6SUQlGI.GAj6nI194b8pDXdM))
- **Albert Estrada** — Senior Vice President, Director of Analytics ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94), [First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/annual_impact_report_2024.pdf?VersionId=JVO4LQPn6SUQlGI.GAj6nI194b8pDXdM))
- **Max Kinsky** — Senior Vice President, BSA/AML/OFAC Officer ([First United Bank](https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94))

## Open AI roles

Data as of Oct 25, 2026 (2026-10-25) · read from the bank's own careers site, re-checked weekly.

3 open AI-related postings on [the careers site](https://www.firstunitedbank.com/careers) as of Oct 25, 2026. A snapshot of current openings, not a source: postings close.

- [AI Product Manger : Advisor](https://careers.jackhenry.com/job/springfield/ai-product-manger-advisor/42859/100077685680)
- [Senior AI Engineer](https://careers.jackhenry.com/job/springfield/senior-ai-engineer/42859/101100858736)
- [AI Consultant](https://careers.jackhenry.com/job/springfield/ai-consultant/42859/101282763232)

## Regulators it answers to

- [Federal Reserve](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/federal-reserve) — First United is a state member bank; Fed model-risk and third-party guidance govern its data and digital platforms and any AI. See [SR 11-7](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fed-sr-11-7), [SR 23-4](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fed-sr-23-4).
- [CFPB](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/cfpb) — Consumer and mortgage products bring adverse-action and UDAAP duties to any automated decisioning. See [ECOA / Regulation B adverse action (15 U.S.C. 1691(d); 12 CFR 1002.9)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/cfpb-ecoa-regulation-b-adverse-action).
- [FDIC](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/fdic) — Deposit-insurance supervision and interagency third-party guidance apply to vendor platforms. See [FDIC FIL-29-2023](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fdic-fil-29-2023).

## What the record suggests

### Data and risk in the same sentence is the right frame

Tying technology to data and risk before digital experience is how examiners want AI governance built; the bank has the framing without the disclosure.

### Private ownership permits patience

Without quarterly investor pressure, First United can sequence data foundations before AI; it should still document the roadmap for regulators.

### Purpose-driven brand needs a stated AI ethic

A bank built on 'Spend Life Wisely' will be asked how AI serves customers rather than extracts from them; a principles statement would fit.

### ChatGPT caution should extend to staff policy

Warning customers about AI privacy implies an internal acceptable-use policy; publishing it would be consistent.

## FAQ

### Who leads AI at First United Bank?

First United has no public head of AI. Its 2025 impact report lists Jay Liles as senior vice president and director of AI program strategy and execution, in the Program & Strategy group beside Daniel Parsons, the director of program and strategy. Technology sits with Tadd Tobkin, executive vice president and chief technology officer, and Justin Sanderson, senior vice president and chief transformation officer. Tim Schneider, chief operating officer, oversees information technology. Saqib Kheiri, chief risk officer, covers risk analytics and information security, and Joe Greene is chief information security officer. The bank has not named a chief data or chief AI officer.

### Does First United Bank use AI?

First United says it does, without detail. In December 2025 executive vice president Melissa Perrin told Southeastern Oklahoma State University that the bank 'currently integrates AI in three key areas: process improvement, user experience, and leadership development'. It has not named an AI vendor, model, tool or budget. Its 2025 impact report lists a senior vice president and director of AI program strategy and execution and an analytics team with a data scientist. Its chief technology officer describes technology as an enterprise capability connected to strategy, data and risk, and its customer content warns about ChatGPT privacy risks and AI-era cyber threats.

### Which technology vendors does First United Bank use?

Public evidence names four. Q2 is the bank's digital banking provider, into which Finotta's Personified tool is embedded, American Banker reported in 2022. Jack Henry's consulting group ran a Global Security implementation, described in a 2022 case study by the bank's then director of IT. Finotta supplies the Personified guidance platform, and First United filled its $3 million seed round in 2021. The 2025 roster also lists a Salesforce platform team. None of the four is publicly tied to AI, and no AI lab, cloud or GPU vendor is named.

### What does the technology and data organisation at First United Bank look like?

The 2025 impact report names an IT group under chief operating officer Tim Schneider, with a director of infrastructure, a director of technology operations, an SVP of engineering and chief architect (Vinay Menon), a senior data engineering manager (Prashant Dalvi) and a Salesforce platform team led by a vice president. Analytics has three named officers: director Albert Estrada, a data scientist and a senior data engineer, up from one in the 2024 report. Information security has a chief information security officer, Joe Greene, with cybersecurity assurance and technology risk and controls managers. The bank had 1,886 employees at 30 June 2026, per the FDIC.

### Who owns First United Bank & Trust?

Spend Life Wisely Company, controlled by the Massey family, with chairman and CEO Greg Massey. The Durant, Oklahoma bank has about $16.3 billion of assets, 75 community banking locations by its own count (80 offices in FDIC data, 74 of them full-service branches) and more than 362,000 customers across Oklahoma and Texas, and is a state member bank supervised by the Federal Reserve.

## Sources (23)

1. Understanding ISO 20022: Preparing for the Future of Payments — First United Bank, Jun 30, 2025. https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/understanding-iso-20022-preparing-future-payments
2. ChatGPT Privacy Risks: Protecting Sensitive Information in the Digital Age — First United Bank, Aug 5, 2025. https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/chatgpt-privacy-risks-protecting-sensitive-information-digital-age
3. Cybersecurity Threats on the Rise in 2026: What You Can Do to Protect What Matters Most — First United Bank, Jan 21, 2026. https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/cybersecurity-threats-rise-2026-what-you-can-do-protect-what-matters-most
4. Impact Report 2025 — First United Bank, Mar 20, 2026. https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/ImpactReport2025.pdf?VersionId=HIOSkTx5ZoQnwHiTnb8zuVq9NIVbvo94
5. Business Lessons from 2025 That Will Shape 2026 — First United Bank, Nov 13, 2025. https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/business-lessons-2025-will-shape-2026
6. First United Bank Executive Leadership Team — First United Bank, Sep 24, 2026. https://www.firstunitedbank.com/our-team
7. Tadd Tobkin | First United Bank — First United Bank, Sep 24, 2026. https://firstunitedbank.com/tadd-tobkin
8. Change in Bank Control Notices; Acquisitions of Shares of a Bank or Bank Holding Company — Federal Register (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), Apr 23, 2026. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/23/2026-07976/change-in-bank-control-notices-acquisitions-of-shares-of-a-bank-or-bank-holding-company
9. First United Bank: Combining Community Banking Values with Modern Technology — Interface / FinTech Strategy (B2E Media), Aug 11, 2026. https://interface.media/blog/executiveinsights/first-united-bank-combining-community-banking-values-with-modern-technology
10. Impact Report 2024: A Spend Life Wisely Company Business Profile — First United Bank, Mar 31, 2025. https://firstunitedbank.com/_s3/firstunitedbank-com/files/document/annual_impact_report_2024.pdf?VersionId=JVO4LQPn6SUQlGI.GAj6nI194b8pDXdM
11. Southeastern awarded $500,000 grant from state regents for AI programs — Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Dec 8, 2025. https://www.se.edu/2025/12/southeastern-awarded-500000-grant-from-state-regents-for-ai-programs/
12. FDIC BankFind financial data, First United Bank and Trust Company (CERT 4239), 2023-2026 call reports — FDIC, Jun 30, 2026. https://api.fdic.gov/banks/financials?filters=CERT%3A4239%20AND%20REPDTE%3A%5B20231231%20TO%2020260630%5D&fields=REPDTE,ASSET,DEP,NETINC,ROA,ROE,NUMEMP&sort_by=REPDTE&sort_order=ASC&limit=20
13. FDIC BankFind Suite API: office locations, First United Bank and Trust Company (CERT 4239) — FDIC, Oct 16, 2026. https://api.fdic.gov/banks/locations?filters=CERT%3A4239&fields=STALP,SERVTYPE,OFFNAME&limit=1000
14. FDIC BankFind institution record, First United Bank and Trust Company (CERT 4239) — FDIC, Oct 9, 2026. https://api.fdic.gov/banks/institutions?filters=CERT%3A4239&fields=CERT,NAME,OFFDOM,NAMEHCR,REGAGNT,ASSET,DEP,REPDTE
15. Finotta partners with First United Bank & Trust for investment and launch of personalization technology — PR Newswire (Finotta), Feb 8, 2022. https://prnewswire.com/news-releases/finotta-partners-with-first-united-bank--trust-for-investment-and-launch-of-personalization-technology-301477906.html
16. First United Bank successfully rolls out Finotta to customers, sees 120 new savings accounts within first 24 hours — FinTech Futures (Business Wire release), Dec 15, 2022. https://fintechfutures.com/press-releases/first-united-bank-successfully-rolls-out-finotta-to-customers-sees-120-new-savings-accounts-within-first-24-hours
17. Financial health app brings community bank 400 account leads in 30 days — American Banker, Dec 15, 2022. https://americanbanker.com/news/financial-health-app-brings-community-bank-400-account-leads-in-30-days
18. Oklahoma-Based First United Bank Gains Valuable Global Security Implementation and Expert Support (case study) — Jack Henry, May 18, 2022. https://www.jackhenry.com/hubfs/resources/case-studies/jh-case-study-operations-professional-services-consulting-first-united-bank.pdf
19. Layna Dupuis, First United Bank | Next 2024 — American Banker, Jul 29, 2024. https://americanbanker.com/news/layna-dupuis-first-united-bank-next-2024
20. Timothy Schneider | First United Bank — First United Bank, Oct 14, 2026. https://firstunitedbank.com/timothy-schneider
21. Business Fraud Risk Calculator — First United Bank, Oct 14, 2026. https://firstunitedbank.com/business/fraud-calculator
22. How to Shield Your Business From AI-Generated Fraud — First United Bank, Oct 14, 2026. https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/how-shield-your-business-ai-generated-fraud
23. Protect What You've Built: Creating a Fraud-Aware Business — First United Bank, Sep 10, 2026. https://www.firstunitedbank.com/spendlifewisely/protect-what-youve-built-creating-fraud-aware-business

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