Arvest Bank vs Frost Bank

As of Q1 2026, Frost Bank carries a larger commercial real estate loan book than Arvest Bank, roughly 1.4× the size — $10.3B versus $7.3B. CRE book size is one gauge of how much lending capacity a bank is actively deploying, though a bigger book is not automatically better for a borrower; what matters is whether the bank is still growing that book and how concentrated it has become.

Their trajectories diverge: Frost Bank is growing its CRE book (2.5% quarter over quarter) while Arvest Bank is contracting (0.4%). For a borrower weighing the two, the expanding lender is the more likely to be competing for new business right now.

Neither bank has run past the 300% CRE concentration guideline — Arvest Bank is at 209% and Frost Bank at 120%. Banks well below the guideline typically have more room to keep adding commercial real estate loans, which tends to mean more competitive pricing and terms for borrowers.

Arvest Bank carries a higher nonaccrual CRE ratio (1% of its CRE book, versus 0% at the other). Rising nonaccruals consume management attention and provisions and often precede tighter credit standards — a useful caution flag when comparing the two as a potential lender.

County recorded documents show both lenders actively closing commercial loans — 3 recent for Arvest Bank and 50 for Frost Bank. Frost Bank shows the heavier recent activity in the records we track. Filed deeds of trust are the ground truth of a closed, secured loan, so a presence here confirms the bank is writing business, not just quoting it.

The short version: Frost Bank runs the larger CRE book. The right lender for any specific deal still depends on property type, sponsorship, and the current terms each is quoting — the table above and each bank's full profile carry the detail.