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First Freedom’s Montgomery Delivers Books to Students

First Freedom’s Ashley Montgomery, Assistant Vice President and Mt. Juliet Office Manager, delivered books last Friday to all Wilson County first grade students through the Mt. Juliet Noon Rotary’s Read to Succeed Program. She serves as the Club Membership Chair for the Noon Rotary. This is the second year she has participated in the Read to Succeed Program.

First Freedom’s Tippit Participates in Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation Roundtable

First Freedom’s Ashley Tippit, Gainesboro Assistant Office Manager, joined a roundtable with the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation earlier this month. Tippit is a board member for the Jackson County Imagination Library and by participating in the roundtable she had the opportunity to meet with other Dolly Parton Imagination Library board members from surrounding counties. Meetings like this help strengthen partnerships, share ideas, and increase awareness of the program.

Tippit is pictured third from the left with other roundtable attendees.

First Freedom is Table Sponsor at Lebanon Senior Citizen Center Event

First Freedom Bank sponsored a table at the Lebanon Senior Citizen Center’s annual Valentines Celebration and Fundraiser. This is one of the largest fundraisers for the center and it doubled this year as a commemoration of their 45th year of service.

Pictured from left to right is Barbara Beasley, Jim Beasley, Norma Fugate, Don Fugate, Tatum Ortlepp, Lebanon Assistant Office Manager, Garrett Ortlepp, Ray Hodges, and Marty Hodges.

First Freedom Bank Supports Lebanon Chamber Event

First Freedom Bank sponsored a table at the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber’s annual celebration. This was a particularly big year for the event, as the chamber was also celebrating their centennial. Held at The Mill in Lebanon, attendance was over 500 businesses and individual members.

Pictured from left to right, back row, is John Lancaster, Chairman and CEO, Ryan Woodall, Assistant Vice President and Relationship Manager, Jackie Gaither, Board Member, John Bradshaw, President / COO & CLO, Phillip Vance, Vice President and Relationship Manager, and J.B. Owens, Executive Vice President and Director of Commercial Banking, Pictured from left to right, front row, is Maliea Oakley, Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources, and Shelia Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Managerial Lender.

First Freedom Supports Mt. Juliet Chamber

First Freedom Bank supported the Mt. Juliet Chamber’s annual celebration with the purchase of seats at the event. Held at the Hilton Garden Inn & Tru on February 9th, the chamber uses this event as a time to recognize those who have made a particular impact in the business community in the prior year.

Pictured from left to right is Ashley Montgomery, Assistant Vice President and Mt. Juliet Office Manager, Sarah Poss, Vice President and Assistant Director of Retail Banking, Kaitlin Wattenbarger, Providence Personal Banker, Meagan Roberts, Providence Personal Banker, Denise Bingham, Assistant Vice President and Providence Office Manager, and Kenny Beavers, Senior Vice President and Director of Retail Banking.

First Freedom Recognizes Employees with the Chairman’s Cup Awards

First Freedom recognized several employees this past quarter for exceptional job performance and for exceeding their individual goals for enhancing and broadening customer relationships. Their outstanding performance earned them the prestigious honor of Chairman’s Cup Member for the quarter.

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

Blake Smith, Lebanon FSR Manager

Kasey Johnston, Lebanon FSR

Tori Oakley, FSR / Personal Banker

Miah Lamb, Providence FSR

Kaye Fajardo, Providence FSR

Chrissy Wright, Providence FSR Manager

Kyleigh Heady, Gainesboro FSR

Rebecca Birman, Gainesboro FSR Manager

Shelby Mayberry, Gainesboro FSR

Abby McCann, Cookeville FSR Manager

Kaylie Roberson, Cookeville FSR

Teola Ragland, Algood FSR Manager

Hannah Philpot, Algood FSR

Abby McCann, pictured below with John Lancaster, Chairman and CEO, received additional recognition as the Chairman’s Cup Top Performer for achieving the highest overall performance score among all participants.

Pictured above, back row, left to right is Kenny Beavers, Senior Vice President and Director of Retail Banking, Rebecca, Shelby, Miah, and John and pictured front row, left to right is, Sarah Poss, Vice President and Assistant Director of Retail Banking, Tori, Blake, Kasey, Abby, Kaye, and Kyleigh.

First Freedom Promotes Bingham

Denise Bingham has been promoted to Providence Office Manager and Assistant Vice President, announced John Lancaster, Chairman and CEO. Bingham’s prior role was as a Senior Personal Banker and Development Coordinator.

“I’m very excited to see Denise move into this important role,” stated Lancaster.  “Her coworkers love and respect her and her customers know she has a wealth of banking knowledge.  Denise is a top-shelf individual in every respect and I’m proud to have her representing First Freedom.”   

Bingham is a career banker with extensive experience in the retail division, as well as lending. Before joining First Freedom in 2017, she served as an Assistant Vice President and Branch manager with a corporate bank where she was recognized with a Distinguished Sales and Marketing Award. Over the last couple of years, she has served as an Ambassador for the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce.

A native of Lebanon, Bingham continues to reside there with her husband. They have two daughters and are members of Maple Hill Church of Christ.

First Freedom Bank, headquartered in Wilson County, was established in 2006.  A full service, community bank, First Freedom Bank offers personal and commercial banking services from six locations in Wilson, Putnam and Jackson Counties, and has approximately 70 employees. First Freedom Bank has assets in excess of $600 million and is owned by more than 1,100 shareholders throughout Middle Tennessee. First Freedom Bank is a member of the Better Business Bureau, an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additionally, First Freedom has earned the prestigious Five Star rating by Bauer Financial, the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating firm.

First Freedom Supports Cookeville Chamber

First Freedom supported the Cookeville Chamber’s annual meeting by sponsoring a table at the event. Held on February 6th at the Leslie Town Center, the chamber honored six members for their commitment to Putnam County in the prior year. The keynote speaker was Dianne Murphy, senior partner at the PICTOR group.

Pictured from left to right, front row, is Rachel Honaker, Algood Office Manager, Abby McCann, Cookeville FSR Manager, Bryan Sweet, Cookeville Personal Banker, Donna Elrod, Vice President and Gainesboro Office Manager, Sarah Poss, Vice President and Assistant Director of Retail Banking, and J.B. Owens, Executive Vice President and Director of Commercial Banking. Pictured from left to right, back row, is Kenny Beavers, Senior Vice President and Director of Retail Banking, and Ladell Medley, Vice President and Cookeville Office Manager.

Employee Spotlight: Lola Mullican

Lola Mullican serves as the bank’s Executive Administration Officer and is housed at our Lebanon Office. Lola has been with First Freedom Bank from the very beginning, having joined the team as the Administrative Assistant to the CEO two weeks before the bank’s official opening. She was promoted to Executive Administration Officer in 2015 and works closely with the bank’s Chairman and CEO, as well as the rest of the bank’s executive team. Lola also serves as the recording secretary for our board of directors and all committees. Lola’s attention to detail and impeccable time management shine through in her work. She is an invaluable asset to our team and has had considerable impact on its success since the bank’s founding.

How long have you been employed with First Freedom Bank?

Since March 20, 2006 – Just 2 weeks before the bank opened April 3, 2006

What do you enjoy most about working at First Freedom Bank?

The people that work at the bank.  I have made so many great friendships since I have been here. Our people truly care about others, not only professionally but personally. There is a team spirit we have throughout all the offices.  Most important is we have fun and laugh a lot.  

What is something invaluable you have learned from working at First Freedom Bank?

I’ve learned about the banking industry in general. There is so much more to how banks are organized and how they operate than most people know.  It has been very interesting to learn the day-to-day operations and regulations to understand how and why we do what we do every day.  I have been amazed at the constant regulations placed on the banking industry over the hospital industry that I came from.

What was your prior job before joining First Freedom Bank?

Executive Administrative Assistant at University Medical Center.  I have been an administrative assistant since 1976.  

Do you have any hobbies?  

Community theater. I have been a part of Stagestruck Productions since 1988.  I have acted, directed, and choreographed multiple productions.   I also like to travel and visit historic sites. I enjoy history, especially in Tennessee.  I like to drive back roads and see where they go and what history may be there.  Of course, my favorite travel is to the beach.  I love working in the yard and planting flowers.  I have a bluebird house that I watch them return to every year.  Where my home is, there are lots of Eastern Bluebirds from spring to winter.  I also love to workout as much as possible and have a small gym in my home.  I also like to take dance classes and go to Zumba and Barre classes when I can work it in my schedule.

What is one fact about you that you think would surprise people?  

I studied dance for many years and performed USO shows during the Vietnam War with a dance troupe.

Why do you think First Freedom has experienced so much success since their founding in 2006?              

The fact that our friendly employees offer such excellent customer service on a daily basis.  I think our customers realize this fact and tell others about the bank and its employees. Also, our Executive Management Team and the Board of Directors work well together keeping the bank in a great position. 

What is one way in which you feel First Freedom is different from most of its competitors?

The personalized service our employees offer to our customers.  I think it shows we truly care about our customers and their families.  We are small enough to offer a high level of service to individual customers. 

Where do you live? Are you married and/or do you have kids or pets?

I live in Lebanon.  I have 2 children Lydia (Jonathan) Satterfield,41 and Kurt (Jackie) Mullican, 39.  Lydia and Jonathan live in Lebanon and have two children, Duke, 11, and Emma, 7.  Kurt and Jackie live in Eads, TN and have two children, Paola, 14, and Natalia, 13.  I grew up in East Nashville and have been in Lebanon for 38 years.

Are in involved in any organization, clubs, or community groups?

I attend Crossroads Community Church where I am part of Guest Services Team and a Ladies Community Group.  

First Freedom Volunteers with Give a Little Christmas

First Freedom staff volunteered to work during Give a Little Christmas’ Parent Distribution Week. Give a Little Christmas is a non-profit organization local to Mt. Juliet that donates toys to families in need within Wilson County and the surrounding areas.  This was their 12th year in operation, supplying Christmas for 150 to 500 kids each year.

Pictured from left to right is Sarah Poss, Vice President and Assistant Director of Retail Banking, and Ashley Montgomery, Assistant Vice President and Mt. Juliet Office Manager.

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