Laura Essex
Commercial Lender
Bio
Laura Essex, vice president, brings more than 18 years of experience to her commercial banking customers. She especially enjoys helping customers meet their goals and revels in the fulfillment of working with a variety of businesses in the local community.
Laura earned her bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, majoring in both finance and business economics. She also earned a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in finance. She began her career in banking as a credit analyst, before moving into the commercial lender role, which gives her a well-rounded approach when looking at her customers’ needs.
Laura is committed to helping teach children about financial literacy and has been a volunteer with Junior Achievement of Central Illinois for over 10 years. She stays busy outside the office with her two teenage daughters, Ava and Ella, and can typically be found in a gym or at a softball field, depending on the season.