EXHIBIT 99

                             [Southwest Letterhead]

CONTACT:          RICK J. GREEN, PRESIDENT & C.E.O.
                  KERBY E. CROWELL, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & C.F.O.
TELEPHONE:        (405) 372-2230

RELEASE DATE:     April 3, 2001

         SOUTHWEST BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES NEW SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

         April 3, 2001,  Stillwater,  Oklahoma . . . . Southwest  Bancorp,  Inc.
(NASDAQ  National  Market--OKSB,  OKSBO)  today  announced  that  its  board  of
directors  has  authorized  the  repurchase  of  up  to  an  additional  5%,  or
approximately  190,000  shares.  The  additional  repurchases  would  be made in
connection  with  shares   expected  to  be  issued  under  Bancorp's   dividend
reinvestment,  stock option,  and employee benefit plans and for other corporate
purposes.  The share  repurchases  are expected to be made primarily on the open
market from time to time until March 31,  2002,  or earlier  termination  of the
repurchase  program by the Board.  Repurchases under the program will be made at
the discretion of management based upon market, business,  legal, accounting and
other  factors.  Southwest's  previously  authorized  share  repurchase  program
expires on April 30, 2001.

         Rick J.  Green,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of  Southwest
Bancorp, stated that the company believes the share repurchase program is in the
best interests of Southwest and its shareholders. Southwest's outstanding shares
of common stock trade on the Nasdaq  National  Market under the symbol OKSB, and
closed at a price of $22.25 per share on April 2, 2001.

OKLAHOMA'S OWN SOUTHWEST BANCORP, INC.

         Southwest  Bancorp,  Inc., and the  Stillwater  National Bank and Trust
Company are independent, Oklahoma institutions, and are not controlled by out of
state  organizations  or  individuals.  Southwest has  established and pursued a
strategy of  independent  operation for the benefit of all of its  shareholders,
and has  capitalized on its position as an Oklahoma  owned and operated  banking
organization to increase its banking business.

         Southwest  offers a broad range of commercial and consumer  lending and
deposit  services,  and devotes  substantial  efforts to marketing and providing
services to local businesses, their primary employees, and to other managers and
professionals  living and  working in its  Oklahoma  market  areas.  Southwest's
marketing  and  delivery  system does not rely on an extensive  branch  network.
Stillwater National operates six offices located in Stillwater,  Tulsa, Oklahoma
City and Chickasha,  Oklahoma;  loan  production  offices on the campuses of the
University   of   Oklahoma   Health   Sciences   Center   and   Oklahoma   State
University-Tulsa and a marketing presence in the Student Union at Oklahoma State
University-Stillwater   and  in  two  American  Automobile  Association  ("AAA")
Oklahoma  offices as sole  provider of  financial  services for the AAA Oklahoma
organization. Stillwater National offers Internet banking services to commercial
and individual customers through SNB DirectBanker(TM).  As of December 31, 2000,
Southwest had consolidated assets of approximately $1.2 billion.

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