Euros arrive in Tulsa

Out with the old and in with the euro has kept one Tulsa bank busy. The new European currency has arrived in Oklahoma and customers are lining up for it at the Bank of Oklahoma. <br><br>News on Six reporter

Friday, January 4th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Out with the old and in with the euro has kept one Tulsa bank busy. The new European currency has arrived in Oklahoma and customers are lining up for it at the Bank of Oklahoma.

News on Six reporter Jenni Monet says the Euro is in Tulsa and believe it or not, BOK is the one and only financial institution across the entire state doling out this change in currency. In Europe, the Euro made its debut in 14.5 billion bank notes, and in 50 billion coins. Now the international tender that became legal this week, has made its debut, right here in Tulsa. Everyone wants to cash in on a part of history in the making. BOk international teller Shiela Drake, "Cause the Euro will be here, and I've had lots of phone calls, lots of inquiries, lots of people coming up."

It came to the only international teller station in the state of Oklahoma. BOk International official Norah Josefchuck, "We've probably been preparing for six months." Preparing to go out with the old, and in with the new. "They're bringing in their old money to exchange it for US dollars, or they're buying the old money to collect it." But the excitement for Drake is just beginning. "Very busy, very busy."

Itâ€™s the downtown branch of the Bank of Oklahoma that received the Euro Friday afternoon. However bankers there tell us they'll only be carrying the actual hard currency, no coins. Either way, it's a very exciting time for this institution.

Typically currency like this only makes it into major financial districts, such as San Francisco and New York.