[3] He began his senior league career in the Newcastle competition before moving to Sydney in 1950 where he played with the Eastern Suburbs club.

In 1959, Banks played in the Queensland victory over New South Wales that attracted 35,261 spectators, smashing Brisbane's previous record for an interstate match of 22,817.

The Gregory's reference published contemporaneously to his career, reports that he was not a speedy player, but a great field general, ball distributor and grand defender.

Whilst equally at home at five-eighth or centre his teammates preferred him to occupy the pivot spot to benefit from his on-field organisational skills.

[7] In 2008, rugby league in Australia's centenary year, Banks was named at five-eighth in the Toowoomba and South West Team of the Century.