By: Chad Mertz—
Muncie, IN– First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ – FRME) has announced Jamie Matthews as its new market president for the Muncie region. Matthews will oversee all market operations and build upon the company’s recent growth and success in the city it has called home for more than 125 years.
Matthews has been with First Merchants for nearly a decade, serving as a business banker, commercial relationship manager, and most recently as commercial banking sales manager. Prior to First Merchants, Matthews was a men’s basketball coach for Manchester College, Saginaw Valley State University and Eastern Washington University. He received a master’s degree from Central Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University.
Matthews and his wife Joy are active Muncie residents. They have two children in addition to Matthews’ three daughters from a previous marriage.
“Jamie immediately embraced the First Merchants vision and culture and will build on the strong team in Muncie built by Scott and other senior leaders,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer Michael Stewart. “He believes in setting a vision, establishing priorities and executing in a manner that drives the best results for both customers and employees.”
“Muncie continues to be on a positive trajectory,” said Matthews. “We’re seeing new opportunities as the city and local leaders are committed to advancing development and partnerships to foster a stronger, sustainable community. The same can be said for First Merchants, and that combination presents exciting opportunities.”
Matthews succeeds Scott McKee, who will become First Merchants’ Director of Corporate Social Responsibility.
McKee, an industry veteran with more than 30 years’ experience in banking, has been named First Merchants’ Corporate Social Responsibility Director and will lead efforts around community relations, volunteerism, philanthropy, financial education and community reinvestment activities.
Last year, company leadership began discussing opportunities to bolster resources impacting community leadership, organic growth and social responsibility, core company values.
“First Merchants believes in taking care of our communities,” said Michael C. Rechin, president and CEO of First Merchants. “The expanded effort will have a significant impact, both internally and externally, and we have the utmost confidence in Scott to lead the way. The success of our clients and communities will always be the true barometer of this company’s performance.”
First Merchants recently announced a $1.4 billion community investment plan with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and its community-based members and partners. The commitment, which extends through 2025, includes mortgage, small business and community development investments and lending.
McKee has been with First Merchants for the past 13 years, serving first as a commercial banking manager. He was named region president of the company’s Muncie region in 2016. He has his MBA from Butler University and a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University.
“This is a tremendous opportunity and allows me to combine my banking expertise with a long held passion to better our world,” said McKee. “I’m confident we will do just that because I’ve seen how much my colleagues share in that passion. They believe in people just as much as I do, and working together, we can and will do great things for our communities.”
About First Merchants Corporation
First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. The Corporation has one full-service bank charter, First Merchants Bank. The Bank also operates as First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors (as a division of First Merchants Bank). First Merchants Corporation’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol FRME. Quotations are carried in daily newspapers and can be found on the company’s website (www.firstmerchants.com). FIRST MERCHANTS and the Shield Logo are federally registered trademarks of First Merchants Corporation.
