Matt Brooks Joins Murphy-Wall Team

A familiar face in the Southern Illinois banking industry is making waves in Murphysboro.  Matt Brooks, AVP/Lending Officer has recently taken on serving the Murphysboro area at Murphy-Wall State Bank and Trust Company. Brooks has been a Murphysboro resident for the past 18 years, with a decade of experience in community banking settings. However, many in Southern Illinois may recognize him from his appearances on the basketball court over the past 22 years.

Growing up in the DeSoto/Elkville area, Brooks attended John A. Logan College, where he played basketball the Volunteers from 1998 until 2000.  His education has carried him both near and far, also attending Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO, where he played basketball for the university and received a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, and later going on to the University of Wisconsin School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin. In his spare time, other than his duties at Murphy-Wall, he is the Varsity Basketball Coach for St. Andrews Jr. High during the winter and Murphysboro Bears AAU in the summer.

Some believe in the old expression, “practice makes perfect.” Brooks does not. He explained, “I think “perfect practice” makes you better. Quality of practices is what I try to thrive on. I think someone has to be passionate about what they are doing to be great at it. I wasn’t always the best player on the floor, but in my mind, I was going to out-work you or out-think you to make up the difference…if you can practice game like situations during practice, that is what made me better, in my opinion.” By this method, Brooks continues to sharpen his skill, both as a coach and as a loan officer.

Brooks has been involved in a variety of workings throughout the local financial industry. He noted having been one of fifteen original employees in the start-up of a banking operation, working in asset quality/lender for six years. Brooks noted, “I think as a banker, you always have people looking at you for financial guidance. This keeps the pressure on me to educate myself on current situations and be a resource to small business owners.”

Basketball has sharpened his perspectives off the court, helping Brooks continue working as a team player. Brooks imparted, “It’s the life lessons of the game that you carry on after you’re done playing…Teaching you that all your hard work and sacrifice isn’t always going to benefit you initially. ‘Might benefit someone else before you. Being a team player in banking doesn’t mean you have to pass all the time. When faced with a difficult task, I like to get peoples’ opinions and consider them before making a decision. In “basketball terminology,” I’ll pass it a couple times, but when it comes back to me, I am shooting it.”

When asked why people in the Murphysboro area should look toward Murphy-Wall State Bank for business, Brooks replied, “Murphy-Wall State Bank is a community bank, which continues to invest in its local communities. We offer loan products to small business owners, homeowners and local farmers, and we are going to be in the community for a long time.”

Looking ahead to what is in store for the local Murphy-Wall State Bank banking facility Brooks shared, “Our future for Murphysboro banking looks promising with some of the new products we have brought to the table. Bankers are going to have to continue to pivot their business model to help the customer thrive in the ever changing markets.”

Murphy-Wall offers USDA, FHA, and VA Home Loans. More information on these and other loan services, including real estate, ag loans, home equity and commercial loans may be found under the “Lending” tab at www.murphywall.com.

Murphy-Wall State Bank and Trust Company is an independent bank that traces roots back to 1874.  It serves Pinckneyville, Murphysboro, Elkville, Carterville, and Marion, along with Perry, Jackson and Williamson Counties and Southern Illinois with a variety of banking services.  Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.  Learn more at murphywall.com and Like Us on Facebook.

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