Exhibit 99 (a)

NASDAQ: BOKF

For more information:                      Steven Nell
                                           Chief Financial Officer
                                           BOK Financial
                                           (918) 588-6319

                                           Danny Boyd
                                           Corporate Communications Manager
                                           BOK Financial
                                           (918) 588-6348



        BOK Financial Corporation Board Declares 3 Percent Stock Dividend

     TULSA,  Okla.  (Tuesday,  April 27,  2004) -- The board of directors of BOK
Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: BOKF) declared a 3 percent stock dividend payable
on or about May 31 to shareholders of record on May 10.

     BOKF is a regional  financial  services  company with total assets of $13.7
billion at March 31, 2004. The company provides commercial and consumer banking,
investment  and  trust  services,  mortgage  origination  and  servicing  and an
electronic funds transfer network.  Holdings include Bank of Albuquerque,  N.A.,
Bank of Arkansas,  N.A., Bank of Oklahoma,  N.A., Bank of Texas, N.A.,  Colorado
State  Bank  and  Trust,  N.A.,  the  TransFund  electronic  funds  network  and
broker/dealer  BOSC, Inc. Shares of BOK Financial are traded on the Nasdaq under
the symbol BOKF. For more information visit our web site at www.bokf.com.