Murphy Bank

The Murphy Legacy

With a career in finance that began in 1951, Charles “Mike” Murphy had seen marginal banking practices over the years that turned out to be disastrous for customers and companies alike. In founding Murphy Bank (originally Sierra Thrift) in 1984, he was determined to provide high-quality, honest banking services to customers in the Fresno area, and he put systems in place to ensure that reality. For the founding management team, Mr. Murphy selected Jim Templeton, Richard Laxton, and Paul Heath. In 1989, Mike Falge joined the bank as a loan officer, and quickly became a key contributor to the bank’s continuing success. When Chairman of the Board, Mr. Murphy retired in 2001, Mr. Templeton became Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Falge was unanimously voted in as President, replacing Mr. Templeton at that position. Mr. Murphy passed away in November 2016 and left behind the bank he had always dreamed of creating. His daughter, Brigeen Houghton, who has served on the board since 2001, was named Chairman of the Board upon Mr. Templeton’s retirement in 2014. She serves alongside her brothers Patrick and Michael Murphy, her mother Dolores Murphy, and the founding management team on the Murphy Bank Board.