MidFirst Bank Donates $100,000 to Support Hough Ear Institute’s Research Endowment Launch

July 9, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Hough Ear Institute (HEI) is proud to announce MidFirst Bank as one of the lead supporters in the launch of its $40 million Research Endowment Campaign with a generous $100,000 donation. This strategic partnership underscores MidFirst Bank’s strong commitment to advancing medical innovation and supporting transformational research. 

The endowment will provide lasting financial support for HEI’s pioneering research programs in hearing loss, tinnitus, auditory and balance disorders, and neurodegeneration, all conditions that affect millions globally. Annual interest earned from the endowment will support Oklahoma scientists working to overcome elusive hearing health challenges and create first-in-class therapeutic treatments. MidFirst’s support will enable HEI to not only pursue medical breakthroughs but also continue its missional outreach through community hearing health initiatives, global medical missions, educational programming, and the HoughAid Hearing Wellness Program, which provides free, high-quality hearing aids to underserved adults across Oklahoma. 

Founded in the early 1980s and now an independent nonprofit, HEI continues the legacy of Dr. Jack Hough – an internationally renowned otologic surgeon whose breakthroughs have shaped modern hearing restoration. Today, HEI is focused on pharmaceutical solutions in addition to devices, with promising therapies like NHPN-1010, a potential oral treatment for tinnitus, poised to enter clinical trials. 

"MidFirst Bank’s generous donation demonstrates their belief in the power of innovation and their commitment to improving lives through science," said Pam Timmons, Development Director, at Hough Ear Institute. "This partnership strengthens our ability to invest in groundbreaking discoveries and retain and attract top-tier researchers to Oklahoma." 

“MidFirst has partnered with the Hough Ear Institute for many years, and it is a privilege to help advance the Institute’s pioneering research in auditory disorders and enhance the lives of countless individuals,” said Jeff Records, Chairman of MidFirst Bank. “The impact of untreated hearing loss can lead to a diminished quality of life for many, and HEI’s research aims to reverse that trajectory. MidFirst Bank’s support brings that goal one step closer to reality, and we are proud to support this leading organization.” 

MidFirst Bank, the largest privately owned bank in the United States, has a long-standing partnership with HEI through both financial contributions and volunteer engagement. The Bank’s $100,000 commitment to HEI’s research endowment campaign marks a new milestone in that partnership and affirms MidFirst’s role as a champion for innovation, education, and healthcare. 

To learn more about Hough Ear Institute and its mission, visit www.houghear.org. 

About MidFirst Bank 

With more than $40 billion in assets, Oklahoma City-based MidFirst Bank is the largest privately owned bank in the nation and provides commercial lending, wealth management, private banking and mortgage servicing nationally. MidFirst Bank has locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. MidFirst Bank serves California through 1st Century Bank, a division of MidFirst Bank. MidFirst website: midfirst.com, 1st Century Bank website: 1cbank.com