For the first time since The Murray Bank was founded in 1999, a woman will serve on its board of directors. The board unanimously voted in July to add Eleshia Brandon, a longtime bank employee who became executive vice president in 2024. Brandon will attend her first meeting as a board member Tuesday.
Brandon said she was pleasantly surprised by the appointment and noted that the board has consisted of the men who founded the bank, leaving no previous opportunity to add anyone.
“The board has always been the men who created the Bank in 1999, and there’s just never been an opportunity for anyone to be added, man or woman,” Brandon said.
David Taylor, a founding board member, said the board had hoped for some time to add a woman. Once members began considering candidates from within the bank, he said Brandon was “an obvious choice.”
“To be honest, we hoped to find a good female for the board for a while, and we’ve just kind of been stagnant,” Taylor said.
Brandon has worked with The Murray Bank since 2002, previously serving as a loan officer and compliance officer before becoming executive vice president.
“We are thrilled to welcome Eleshia to our Board of Directors,” said Tony Ryan, president of The Murray Bank, in a recent press release. “Her leadership, experience, and commitment to our bank and our community will be a tremendous asset as we continue to move forward.”
A graduate of Calloway County High School, class of 1997, and an alumna of Murray State University, Brandon graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 2008. She and her husband of 24 years, Ricky, have one daughter, Rachel Reese.
In 2023, Brandon graduated summa cum laude from the Barrett School of Banking and has had specialized training in compliance management and bank secrecy/anti-money laundering.
The Murray Bank was created by local business owners who felt that a locally chartered, independently owned bank was needed in Murray. The bank opened its doors on June 15, 1999. Since then, the board has been made up of the men who created the bank.
Rick Jones, a local attorney who has served on The Murray Bank’s board since it was founded in 1999, described the board’s role.
“The board’s responsibilities include oversight of the Bank as well as the placement of bank president and vice president,” Jones said.
Jones also praised Brandon.
“Eleshia is just an outstanding employee,” he said. “She’s contributed, over the course of her employment, to the bank in so many ways.”
Taylor said Brandon was already involved in board meetings through her role as executive vice president but previously stepped out during executive sessions. He said board members now want her input in those discussions and believe she will bring a different perspective.
“She’s young. She’s going to have a different perspective a little bit than a lot of us older folks, and from a female perspective as well,” Taylor said. “It’s just good to get different ideas and different perspectives on issues.”
Taylor said the founding board members also recognize they will eventually need others to take their places.
“We’re getting older, and we’re not going to be able to serve forever,” he said.
Brandon has been a member of the Kentucky Bankers Association Leadership Council Board, Kentucky Bankers Association Emerging Leaders, Murray High FRYSC Advisory Council, Compliance Resource LLC Board and Leadership of Murray during her tenure with The Murray Bank.
Brandon stated that she loves her job and enjoys being able to help her fellow employees assist the bank’s customers as best they can. As for being the first woman on the board, Brandon said she was a little shocked at the timing.
“I was pleasantly surprised to be chosen,” Brandon said. “I guess I could say that I dreamed it was possible, but I just didn’t think that it would happen now.”
“I’m very honored to be serving with the men who created this bank,” Brandon said.
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