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Author: Miah Lamb

First Freedom Supports Annual Mt. Juliet Chamber Celebration

First Freedom Bank was proud to once again support the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce at their annual celebration. Held at the Hilton Garden Inn & Tru on January 31st, this celebration recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact in the business community over the past year.

Pictured in attendance from left to right is Kaitlin Wattenbarger, Providence Personal Banker, Jennifer Mancuso, Mt. Juliet Personal Banker, Miah Lamb, Providence Personal Banker, Denise Bingham, VP & Providence Office Manager, Sarah Poss, First VP & Director of Retail Banking, and Ashley Montgomery, VP and Mt. Juliet Office Manager.


To discover more about First Freedom Bank and our involvement in the community, please interact with the buttons below.

First Freedom Recognizes Employees with Chairman’s Cup Award

First Freedom recognized several Financial Services Representatives (FSRs) this past quarter for their exceptional performance in enhancing and expanding customer relationships. Their outstanding achievements allowed them to earn the prestigious recognition of Chairman’s Cup Member for the quarter.

Congratulations to the following Staff for qualifying for Chairman’s Cup:

Sarah Ensey, Mt. Juliet FSR

Kaye Fajardo, Providence FSR Manager

Rebecca Birman, Gainesboro FSR Manager

Shelby Meadows, Gainesboro Senior FSR

Chrissy Wright, Lebanon FSR Manager & Training Coordinator

Alexia Borrero, Lebanon FSR II

Miah Lamb, Providence Personal Banker

Sydney Hughes, Providence FSR

Anna Jean Ellis, Gainesboro FSR II

Rayne Grace, Lebanon FSR

Hannah Philpot, Algood FSR Manager

Abby McCann, Cookeville FSR Manager

Rebecca Birman received additional recognition as the Chairman’s Cup Top Performer for achieving the highest overall performance score among all participants. Additionally, three FSRs attained a perfect operational score for the quarter, demonstrating exemplary quality of work. These outstanding professionals are Miah Lamb, Sydney Hughes, and Rebecca Birman.


Pictured in attendance are John Lancaster, Chairman & CEO, Sarah Ensey, Sarah Poss, First VP & Director of Retail Banking, Rebecca, Kaye, Chrissy, Miah, Alexia, Sydney, Shelby, Anna Jean, and Tatum Ortlepp, Assistant VP & Retail Banking Sales Manager.

First Freedom Hosts Lunch & Learn with Lochinvar and Apcom

First Freedom hosted lunch and learn programs this month at Lochinvar in Lebanon and Apcom in Cookeville. These sessions reflect our ongoing commitment to providing accessible financial education to the community. During the lunch period at both Lochinvar and Apcom, our staff presented relevant financial information and held a brief Q&A session for employees.

Pictured above from the Lochinvar program, left to right, is Jennifer Mancuso, Mt. Juliet Personal Banker, Tamra Greer, RN, A O Smith Health Engagement Nurse, and Shelia Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Managerial Lender. 


To discover more about us and our recent community involvement, please engage with the interactive buttons below!

First Freedom Supports Cookeville-Putnam Co Chamber Event

First Freedom Bank proudly sponsored the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Business After Hours event. The bank has participated in this event for several years and values the opportunity to support it each year. Our staff enjoys the chance to connect and network with other local professionals and businesses.

Pictured above from left to right are Meleah Payne, Cookeville FSR, Rachel Honaker, Putnam County Market Manager, Kaitlyn Kovalchik, Accounting Officer, and Bryan Sweet, Cookeville Personal Banker.


To learn more about our Cookeville office and how we can assist you in achieving your financial goals, please interact with the buttons below!

First Freedom Sponsors Rehab23 Christmas Breakfast

First Freedom Bank proudly co-sponsored the annual Wilson County Rehab23 Christmas Breakfast and Appreciation Program, which honors the dedication of local emergency responders.

This year’s guest speaker, James (Jim) Scarboro, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), shared valuable insights with attendees. Leaders from the eight Wilson County agencies supported by Rehab23, along with Rehab23 responders and community supporters, gathered to celebrate their collective efforts.

Pictured above from left to right are Denise Bingham, AVP and Providence Office Manager, Tatum Ortlepp, Retail Banking Sales Manager, James Carroll, Rehab23 VP of Operations, Lynn Yeager, Rehab23 President, James Scarboro, Meagan Roberts, Lebanon Personal Banker, and Sarah Poss, Vice President & Director of Retail Banking.


At First Freedom Bank, we are dedicated to supporting the essential work of first responders in our community. To find out more about our community engagements, please interact with the button below!

First Freedom Volunteers for Wilson County Christmas for All

The holiday season is a time for giving, sharing, and spreading joy to those around us. At First Freedom Bank, we are proud to be part of the Wilson County community and to support initiatives that positively impact the lives of our neighbors. One initiative that brings us great joy is the Wilson County Christmas for All event, which provides toys to children in need, ensuring a Merry Christmas for everyone.

Team members Tatum Ortlepp, Retail Banking Sales Manager, Sheila Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Managerial Lender, and Christy Trammel, Administrative Assistant, Holly Wolfe, Lebanon Personal Banker, Alexia Borrero, Lebanon FSR II, Blake Smith, Accounting Clerk, and Kayla Ring, Assistant VP & Construction Manager each volunteered their time to contribute to the effort of providing gifts to over 2,000 children in need. This volunteer work allowed them to give back to the community and make a positive difference in the lives of those around them, reflecting the community service spirit that First Freedom Bank values.

Pictured above left to right is Christy Trammel, Sheila Ferrell, and Tatum Ortlepp.


Pictured below left to right is Holly Wolfe, Alexia Borrero, Blake Smith, and Kayla Ring.


We are proud to engage with our community and appreciate the opportunity to serve our neighbors. For more information about our initiatives and impact, please click the buttons below.

First Freedom Recognizes Employees with Chairman’s Cup Award

First Freedom acknowledged several Financial Services Representatives (FSRs) this past quarter for their exceptional job performance and for surpassing their individual goals in enhancing and expanding customer relationships. Their outstanding achievements earned them the prestigious recognition of Chairman’s Cup Member for the quarter.


Congratulations to the following Staff for qualifying for Chairman’s Cup:

Holly Cox, Cookeville FSR

Chrissy Wright, Lebanon FSR Manager

Alexia Borrero, Lebanon FSR II

Rayne Grace, Lebanon FSR

Miah Lamb, Providence FSR Manager & Personal Banker

Kaye Fajardo, Providence FSR II

Hannah Philpot, Algood FSR Manager

Brittany Agee, Gainesboro FSR

Jessi Boyd, Cookeville FSR

Rebecca Birman, Gainesboro FSR Manager

Shelby Meadows, Gainesboro FSR

Jaedyn Stafford, Gainesboro FSR

Anna Jean Ellis, Gainesboro FSR

LiTisha Jobe, Lebanon FSR

Rebecca Birman received additional recognition as the Chairman’s Cup Top Performer for achieving the highest overall performance score among all participants.


Pictured above, back row and left to right, is Chrissy, Shelby, Anna Jean, John Lancaster, Chairman & CEO, Rebecca, Brittany, and Holly. Pictured front row and left to right is Tatum Ortlepp, Retail Banking Sales Manager, Jaedyn, LiTisha, Alexia, and Sarah Poss, Vice President & Director of Retail Banking.

First Freedom Supports Wilson County Christmas for All

As a proud member of the Wilson County community, First Freedom Bank is honored to support the Wilson County Christmas for All initiative. This heartwarming event, in partnership with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Lebanon Fire Department (LFD), provides toys to children from newborn to 13 years old, ensuring a Merry Christmas for all. Our staff, including Lebanon Personal Banker, Brooke Weldy, Credit Analyst, Blair Fry, Lebanon FSR, Rayne Grace, Retail Banking Sales Manager, Tatum Ortlepp, and Administrative Assistant, Helen Green volunteered their time to help bring joy to over 2,000 children in need.

At First Freedom Bank, we’re committed to giving back to our community and making a positive impact on the lives of those around us. Our involvement with Wilson County Christmas for All is just one example of our dedication to supporting local initiatives that make a difference.


We’re proud to be a part of this community and to have the opportunity to serve our neighbors and friends. To learn more about our community involvement and how we’re working to make a difference, click the buttons below.

First Freedom a Sponsor for CASA Fundraiser

First Freedom Bank proudly sponsored a table for Wilson County CASA’s annual Casa de Moda event on October 3rd. This festive fundraiser and fashion show was hosted at Tuckers Gap, showcasing apparel from local boutiques. Guests had the opportunity to shop from these boutiques during the event, with a portion of the sales proceeds benefiting CASA. This year’s theme was Wizard of Office and First Freedom’s table was decorated as the Emerald City.

First Freedom’s Shelia Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Managerial Lender, is on the board of Wilson County CASA.

Pictured above (left to right) is Sarah PossVice President and Director of Retail Banking, Tatum Ortlepp, Retail Banking Sales Manager and Bank Officer, Denise Bingham, Assistant Vice President and Providence Office Manager, Sheila Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Managerial Lender, Helen Green, Administrative Assistant, Maliea Oakley, Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources, Christy Trammel, Administrative Assistant, and Kayla Ring, Assistant Vice President and Construction Manager.


At First Freedom Bank, we’re committed to building strong relationships and making a positive impact in our community. To learn more about our banking services and how we can help you achieve your financial goals, click the interactive buttons below.

First Freedom & TennCommUNITY Volunteer with LSSD

First Freedom, as a member of TennCommUNITY, volunteered with the Lebanon Special School District (LSSD)’s weekend backpack program. Volunteers helped shop for food that would be given to children participating in this program, ensuring accessible meals when school is not in session.

The bank has been a participant of TennCommUNITY since its inception in 2020, when it was created to stimulate local spending and support small businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, the program has evolved to move beyond just post-pandemic support to an ongoing effort to keep local dollars in our community. First Freedom is one of several local banks that collaborate to fund, promote, and support the program in partnership with the three Wilson County Chambers of Commerce.


Pictured below alongside other volunteers and TennCommUNITY members are Tatum Ortlepp, Retail Sales Manager, and Chrissy Wright, Lebanon FSR Manager and Training Coordinator.


At First Freedom Bank, we’re as committed to the legacy of our communities as you are. We’ve started businesses and raised families, built homes, and made memories – right here. Our hopes and dreams, like yours, are rooted our communities. To learn more about our community involvement or to read more about our bank history, click the buttons below.