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Alex Murdaugh— Case Archive
personpersonJan MalinowskiJan MalinowskiPalmetto State Bank executive familiar with Alex Murdaugh's loans, overdrafts, collateral, and access to credit.← All People
Witness

Jan Malinowski

Courtroom still of Jan Malinowski.

Palmetto State Bank executive familiar with Alex Murdaugh's loans, overdrafts, collateral, and access to credit.

Appeared2023 Murder Trial
559 lines·9 proceedings·1 mention

About

Jan Malinowski, president and CEO of Palmetto State Bank, testified about the bank's lending relationship with Alex Murdaugh. Using board materials, account statements, loan records, wire documents, and collateral records, he described Murdaugh's debts, advances from the bank, and proposed security for those obligations.

Malinowski said an August 2021 relationship review placed Murdaugh's direct and indirect principal obligations at about $4.2 million. He described a $350,000 wire to Wilson Law Group and a later $400,000 bank-funded deposit that covered an overdraft of roughly $347,785. He testified that the advances preceded supporting loan paperwork and that, based on the bank's sequential loan numbering, a note dated July 15 was generated after the August inquiry.

His testimony also addressed the proposed collateral and the stated purpose of the borrowing. Malinowski said the contemplated Edisto mortgage was not placed, Green Swamp stock was already cross-collateralized, and the records did not show the questioned funds being used for the described Edisto remodeling. He also explained that sales of certain properties required satisfying amounts owed to the bank.

On cross-examination, Malinowski acknowledged that several referenced accounts had positive balances on June 7, that Murdaugh had received favorable treatment as a bank customer, and that he knew of no denied credit request before September 2021. He qualified matters beyond his knowledge, could not determine the secured portion of the debt without supporting documents, and did not confirm the defense's suggested cumulative-interest figure. On redirect, he said disclosure of the alleged theft, diversion of fees, employment loss, or disbarment would have ended continued lending; on recross, he confirmed that the bank's mortgages remained in place.

Trial Record (9)

20232023 Murder TrialJan 23, 2023 – Mar 3, 2023Called by prosecution

Jan Malinowski testified about Palmetto State Bank's lending relationship with Alex Murdaugh, including substantial debt, an overdraft covered through advances made before supporting paperwork, and disputed collateral. Cross-examination emphasized Murdaugh's favorable customer history and continued access to credit, while redirect addressed circumstances Malinowski said would have ended further lending.

Day 10

DirectJan Malinowski - DirectJan MalinowskiCreighton Waters3highlights174lines spoken

Summary

Bank CEO Jan Malinowski testified in camera that Alex Murdaugh carried substantial debt and received two disbursements totaling $750,000 before supporting loan documents were generated.

Highlights (3)

Quote“Yes, sir. As of the day of that memo that was presented to the executive committee, Mr. Murdaugh owed directly or indirectly $4.2 million.”— Jan MalinowskiMalinowski gave the bank's stated measure of Murdaugh's direct and indirect indebtedness as of the August 2021 memorandum.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“Shortly after Mr. Laffitte, Norris Laffitte, sent his email to members of the executive committee and the board, the -- a deposit was made to Mr. Murdaugh's account in the amount of $400,000 which cleared up an overdraft, a large overdraft which had been in his account that day.”— Jan MalinowskiThe testimony linked the timing of the internal accounting request to a deposit that cleared Murdaugh's overdraft.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“It's a wire request form on our standard documentation dated July 15, 2021. Palmetto State is going to wire funds to South State Bank. The beneficiary of the wire is the Wilson Law Group, LLC, to their IOLTA account in the amount of $350,000.”— Jan MalinowskiMalinowski precisely identified the destination, date, and amount of one of the two disbursements later associated with the $750,000 loan.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossJan Malinowski - CrossJan MalinowskiJim Griffin1highlight43lines spoken

Summary

Jan Malinowski testified that several Murdaugh accounts had positive balances on June 7, that the bank had historically extended him credit, and that three executive-committee members approved a later $750,000 loan.

Highlights (1)

Quote“The executive committee was Charlie Laffitte, Gray Henderson, Russell Laffitte, Scott Swain, and myself.”— Jan MalinowskiMalinowski identified the full committee whose loan-approval practices the defense examined.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 11

ProceduralRule 404(b) Ruling and Limiting InstructionMentioned

Summary

The court admitted alleged financial-crimes evidence under Rule 404(b), Rule 403, and res gestae, clarified that the ruling extended beyond June 7, and addressed the defense's request for a limiting instruction and preserved objection.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 14

DirectJan Malinowski - DirectJan MalinowskiCreighton Waters3highlights219lines spoken

Summary

Bank CEO Jan Malinowski traced Murdaugh's multimillion-dollar debt, a $400,000 overdraft deposit and $350,000 wire, and loan documents he said were created after an August 2021 board inquiry.

Highlights (3)

Quote“He had significant loans with the bank. The murders were obviously traumatic and tragic, and the board and executive committee did bring up Mr. Murdaugh's relationship with the bank.”— Jan MalinowskiMalinowski explained why Murdaugh's substantial banking relationship drew attention from bank leadership after the killings.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“There was a flurry of activity inside the Hampton office to create loan documents.”— Jan MalinowskiThe testimony memorably characterized the bank's response after a board member requested an accounting of Murdaugh's relationship.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“Indebtedness totals 4.2 million consisting of various unsecured and secured notes of co-borrowing and guaranteed loans.”— Jan MalinowskiMalinowski read the executive-committee record's summary of the scale and composition of the indebtedness.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossJan Malinowski - CrossJan MalinowskiJim Griffin1highlight81lines spoken

Summary

Jan Malinowski testified that Murdaugh historically had access to bank credit and substantial collateral, while qualifying that a $350,000 advance was documented later and one loan appeared unsecured.

Highlights (1)