Sometimes the best career moves start by chance and last because of hard work. That is the case for Matt Penny, the Mortgage Branch Manager at Sunflower Bank’s Spokane, Washington, mortgage lending location.
Early in his career, Matt worked as a golf professional, spending his days on the green and traveling across the country to a new location every six months. While he loved working with people, his nomadic lifestyle started to wear thin. When a friend asked if he’d ever considered a career in mortgage, Matt was open to exploring the idea.
That impromptu conversation led to an introduction to Josh Martin, a well-known and respected mortgage leader in the Spokane market. Little did he know that this meeting with Josh would set him on a career path with an upward trajectory.
Matt joined the mortgage industry as a loan originator, working alongside Josh at a local bank. Two years later, Josh approached him with a new opportunity to move to Sunflower Bank. After weighing the pros and cons as a team, Matt, Josh, and five other mortgage professionals made the switch in 2018.
Building Something New in Spokane
“We had the opportunity to bring a new brand, Sunflower Bank, to the Spokane area,” shares Matt. “That was really exciting. Sunflower Bank also seemed like a great place to grow, and that turned out to be true.”
That growth came quickly. Since joining Sunflower Bank, Matt has earned two promotions. His first promotion took him from Mortgage Loan Originator to Sales Manager. Then, when Josh advanced to his current role as Director of Mortgage Loan Sales, SVP, he tapped Matt to step into his former position as Branch Manager of the Spokane office.
Today, Matt leads a team of thirteen mortgage loan originators, and he doesn’t take that responsibility lightly.
“My greatest accomplishment as a leader is that Josh turned the reins of the Spokane team over to me,” Matt says. “I always joke that I promise not to crash the ship, and I haven’t yet. Since taking over this role, we’ve added a handful of originators, and we continue to grow our volume.”
Leading with Access and Accountability
Matt credits much of his success to the Bank’s leadership and the support they provide to the Mortgage Division. One thing he values most about working at Sunflower Bank is the accessibility of the Bank’s leaders. Likewise, he makes it a priority to be available to his team, whether that means answering questions, offering guidance, or providing support.
Matt also believes in clear, honest feedback. He holds formal quarterly check-ins with his team, along with frequent informal conversations, to keep communication open and help team members meet their goals.
“I've taken the philosophy ‘share what people need to know, not just what they want to hear’ with my team,” Matt says. “I try to be transparent about areas that need improvement while also recognizing what’s going well.”
Matt’s seen this leadership style first-hand through his own managers and credits his mentor, Josh Martin, whose emphasis on transparency and accountability significantly included this approach. He’s found that open and transparent communication helps people grow, and teams stay connected.
Culture that Feels Like a Team, Not a Competition
When Matt talks about what makes Sunflower Bank special, he always comes back to the people.
The Spokane mortgage team is close-knit, spending time together outside of work, volunteering, and building relationships that go beyond the office. That same sense of connection carries through when Matt meets colleagues from other markets at sales summits and leadership meetings.
“There’s a real openness and a willingness to share what’s working and not working,” he says. “It feels like you’re on the same team, not competing against each other.”
“There’s a real openness and a willingness to share what’s working and not working. It feels like you’re on the same team, not competing against each other.”
That team-first mindset stands out. It’s collaborative, supportive, and built into how people work throughout the organization. It’s exactly the type of environment that helped him grow as a developing professional, and that helps drive his success all these years later.
Advice for Those Entering the Mortgage Industry or Making a Move
Looking back on his early years in the mortgage industry, Matt remembers just how much there was to figure out. He encourages newcomers to listen to their peers and leaders to become as knowledgeable as possible.
“Become a sponge,” says Matt. “Soak up as much information as you can. There is so much to learn and understand.”
For experienced professionals considering a move to a new company, Matt recommends taking a closer look before making the leap.
“Make sure the organization can support your goals and your definition of success,” advises Matt. “Check under the hood. Talk to the support teams, loan officer assistants, processors, underwriters, and closers. Ask them what it’s really like. You’ll be impressed with what you see or hear from our team.”
Momentum Moving Forward
With new markets coming into the Sunflower Bank footprint, Matt sees plenty of opportunity ahead. He’s excited about the continued growth of the Bank and about the chance to develop new programs to serve both his team and clients better.
For Matt, what started as a chance conversation has turned into a fulfilling career. At Sunflower Bank, he’s found a work family, career growth, and the opportunity to build something meaningful within his community.