ASU selects MidFirst Bank as banking services strategic partner

Arizona State University and MidFirst Bank announce an 11-year comprehensive strategic alliance that consolidates personalized banking services. The new agreement integrates a MasterCard® check card and student and employee ID program; initiates a comprehensive sports-marketing package with ASU Athletics; offers ASU alumni and fans MasterCard check cards, credit cards and gift cards; and provides financial-literacy resources to the ASU community.

The alliance will advance the objectives of both institutions, and provide a comprehensive banking-service solution for all Sun Devils.

“We embark on this relationship with great enthusiasm,” said Jeff Records, MidFirst Bank chairman and chief executive officer. “ASU is a proven leader in higher education, and this affiliation shows our continued commitment to serving the Valley’s financial needs.”

The new association aligns MidFirst Bank, Arizona’s largest privately held bank, with ASU and advances ASU’s objectives to consolidate university business services. MidFirst Bank was selected by ASU as a strategic-banking partner from seven banking and financial services firms.

“We welcome MidFirst Bank as a strategic banking-services partner and value its forward-thinking approach to customized banking services,” said Michael Crow, ASU president. “Their presence at ASU and newfound accessibility to our alumni and fans, coupled with their financial literacy education options, is a tremendous opportunity for ASU community members. We are fortunate to have teamed up with a banking partner of this measure.”

To enhance access to banking services on campus, MidFirst Bank will open two full-service banking centers. One center will be located in the Memorial Union on the Tempe campus, and the other will be in the University Center on the Downtown Phoenix campus.

The new Pitchfork ID MasterCard Check Card will offer ASU students, faculty and staff an all-in-one ID, MasterCard check card and building access card. In addition, all Sun Devil supporters can sign up for the new exclusive credit, check, and gift cards at any MidFirst location throughout the Valley.

MidFirst Bank also has entered into a comprehensive sponsorship program supporting ASU Athletics, including the naming rights for the Sun Devil Stadium press box.

“We’re pleased to significantly increase our connection with Sun Devil Athletics as part of the new relationship with the university, and we look forward to expanding our services to meet the personal financial needs of the ASU community,” said Jeff Lowe, MidFirst Arizona market president.

“MidFirst has stepped up in a meaningful way in support of Sun Devil Athletics,” said Stephen Patterson, managing director and chief operating officer of Sun Devil Athletics. “We are looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship for many years.”

Headquartered in Oklahoma City, MidFirst Bank has 22 banking centers across the Valley and serves more than 600,000 customers nationwide.

Media Contacts:

Michael Piazza, mike.piazza@midfirst.com
602-801-5389
MidFirst Bank

Julie Newberg, julie.newberg@asu.edu
480-727-3116
ASU Public Affairs