First Freedom sponsored a hospitality tent and had a team participate in the annual Mt. Juliet Chamber Golf Tournament . The event was held at the Pine Creek golf course, where the team and staff had a great time participating! Proceeds from the event support the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce.
Pictured above L-R: John Hawkins, Vice President /Specialized Lending, Sam Stardley, Phillip Vance, First Vice President & Relationship Manager, Renee Uhlman, Mt. Juliet FSR, Kaitlin Wattenbarger, Providence Senior Personal Banker, Ryan Woodall, Vice President, & Relationship Manager.
Pictured below L-R: Cara Mckissick, Providence FSR Manager & Personal Banker, Kaye Fajardo, Providence Personal Banker.
First Freedom Bank’s headquarters opened in Middle Tennessee in 2006. We are a true community bank: of our more than 1,000 initial investors, more than 98% were locally sourced. Since then, the bank has expanded to six offices across three counties. To learn more about our presence in the Mt. Juliet community, click the buttons below.
Ashley Tippet has been promoted to Loan Officer at our Gainesboro Office. She previously served as the Assistant Office Manager. Ashley joined First Freedom Bank in 2016 and has 18 years of total banking experience.
“I’m very pleased to see Ashley promoted into this role where she will have a direct impact on the financial needs in Jackson County,” stated John Lancaster, Chairman and Chief Executive of First Freedom. She is a staple in the town of Gainesboro and very well thought of in our company.”
A lifelong resident of the Town of Gainesboro in Jackson County TN, Ashley is continuously serving her community. She currently serves as Treasurer of the Jackson County Imagination Library and previously served as Treasurer and Board Member for the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
Sara Beth Kinnaird has been promoted to Assistant Office Manager for the Gainesboro office. She previously served as a Senior Personal Banker and will continue to help customers in a personal banker capacity alongside her new role. Sara Beth joined First Freedom Bank in 2016 as a Financial Service Representative and has 11 years of total banking experience.
“Sara Beth’s drive for service excellence is on display every day,” continued CEO Lancaster. “She has reputation for going the extra mile when needs arise and can be counted on, both in the office and the community. I’m excited to see her rewarded with this promotion,” he concluded. A lifelong resident of Jackson County, Tennessee, Sara Beth was born and raised in Whitleyville and now resides in Dodson Branch with her husband and their son. She has strong ties to Gainesboro, where she serves as the Treasurer of the Jackson County High School Baseball Team. Sara Beth is currently continuing her education through the Tennessee Bankers Association Southeastern School of Banking.
First Freedom Bank, headquartered in Wilson County, was established in 2006. A full-service community bank, First Freedom offers personal and commercial banking services from six locations in Wilson, Putnam and Jackson Counties, and has approximately 75 employees. First Freedom Bank has more than $800 million in assets and is owned by approximately 1,000 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 for 42 consecutive quarters from Bauer Financial, the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating firm.
The Empower Me Center held their party on the property this year and had an ice cream festival to celebrate. It was a fun filled time with food trucks, live entertainment, family activities, and of course ice cream. Empower me offers different programs for both children and adults with special needs, as well as different fundraising events to help continue their mission of transforming lives. Empower Me is also always looking for volunteers to assist with their programs and events. The fundraiser is an opportunity for everyone in the community to come together and have a great time. We are so happy we got to sponsor this exceptional event!
First Freedom Bank values the opportunity to contribute to meaningful initiatives that serve our communities. To learn more about our community involvement, please click the buttons below!
First Freedom Bank was a sponsor for the 26th annual Lebanon Chamber Golf Tournament this week. We hosted a hospitality tent and had a team participate in the tournament. It was great time on the green, and we were honored to support the chamber at this event!
Pictured above L-R: Phillip Vance, First VP and, Relationship Manager, and Lebanon Wilson County Chamber Chairman of the Board, John Bradshaw, President, COO, and CLO, J.B. Owens, EVP, and Director of Commercial Banking, and Ryan Woodall, VP and, Relationship Manager.
Pictured below L-R: Tatum Ortlepp, AVP and, Retail Banking Sales Manager, Anna Rich, Lebanon Senior FSR, and Holly Wolfe, Lebanon Senior Personal Banker, and Digital Banking Specialist.
First Freedom Bank’s first office and headquarters opened in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 2006. We are a true community bank: of our more than 1,000 initial investors, more than 98% were from Middle Tennessee. Since then, the bank has expanded to six offices across three counties. We continue to invest in our communities, as evidenced by our regular support of the chamber’s golf tournament. To learn more about our main office in Lebanon, or to read more about our bank’s beginnings and mission, click the links below.
First Freedom Bank was a Platinum Sponsor for Wilson County CASA’s annual fashion show fundraiser held at the Wilson County Expo Center. For the first time, the event included a live auction alongside its longstanding tradition of boutique booths, and there was no shortage of support for this wonderful event. All proceeds raised go directly to CASA, ensuring they can continue to advocate for and support children in our community.
Pictured above Front L – R: Denise Bingham, Vice President and Providence Office Manager, Helen Green, Administrative Assistant, Meagan Brown, Senior Personal Banker and Personal Banker Training Coordinator, Kayla Ring, Vice President and Construction Manager. Back L – R: Sarah Ensey, Mt. Juliet Personal Banker, Brooke Weldy, Assistant Vice President and Mt. Juliet Office Manager, Shelia Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Managerial Lender, Blake Smith, Accounting Clerk
First Freedom Bank values the opportunity to contribute to meaningful initiatives that serve our communities. To learn more about our community involvement, please click the buttons below!
First Freedom Bank was recently ranked as a Top 10 Performing Bank in Tennessee for Overall Bank Performance by Bank Performance Report (BPR), a national banking publication prepared quarterly that includes all commercial banks in each state.
BPR’s Q2 2026 Report ranked First Freedom Bank as the #2 bank in overall performance in Tennessee out of 109 banks. The publication ranks bank performance on a variety of factors including margin, efficiency, asset quality, and earnings.
First Freedom Bank was chartered in 2006 and is headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee, with assets of $817 million as of June 30, 2026. They completed the second quarter in the top 20% in five of the ranking categories: Return on Equity, Non-Interest Income, Return on Assets, Non-Interest Expense, & Efficiency, making them the 2nd overall bank in the state of Tennessee.
To learn more about the Bank Performance Report and see the Top 10 banks in each state, visit, www.BPR.services.
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 buttons below.
The 11th Annual FFA Ham Breakfast was held at the Wilson County Fair Grounds this week and First Freedom was happy to attend. All proceeds for the breakfast went to the Tennessee FFA Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization that funds essential FFA programs and scholarships for Middle and High School students across Tennessee. A record-breaking Grand Champion Ham Auction and the generosity of Tennessee FFA supporters helped raise a historic $250,000!
Pictured above L-R: Phillip Vance, First Vice President and Relationship Manager, John Lancaster, Chairman and CEO, Kayla Ring, Vice President and Construction Manager, Maliea Oakley, Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources, J.B. Owens, Executive Vice President, Director of Commercial Banking, and Senior Lending Officer, Ryan Woodall, Vice President and Relationship Manager, Tatum Ortlepp, Assistant Vice President and Retail Banking Sales Manager.
Our bank had its start in Wilson County in 2006 and our headquarters remain in Lebanon to this day. We truly enjoy any chance to be out in the community and support our neighbors. If you would like to experience the difference of a local bank that is committed to the legacy of our communities, we’d welcome the opportunity to serve you. Click the buttons below to learn more about our bank and leadership team.
First Freedom Bank was honored to participate in the back-to-school night at Sycamore Elementary School. We had lots of goody bags filled with pencils, pens, and so much more for all the parents, teachers, and students. We’re happy for the opportunity to help kick off the new school year!
Pictured above L – R: Abby McCann, Assistant Vice President and Cookeville Office Manager and Meleah Payne, Algood Financial Service Representative II
Our support for initiatives like this demonstrates our dedication to the communities we serve and the students whose compassion inspires us every day. To learn more about how we connect with our communities or to find more about our Cookeville Office, please click the buttons below!
This past Saturday, the City of Algood hosted their annual Let Freedom Ring Celebration at the Algood Ball Fields. The event has become a staple for the city and its celebration of Independence Day. Live music, food trucks and games were available for all attendees. First Freedom volunteered their time to the bounce houses, helping kids move through the line. We were honored to help celebrate and volunteer!
Pictured Above from L to R: Rebecca VanderJagt, Assistant Vice President, Cookeville Office Manager, Hannah Philpot, Algood Assistant Office Manager
Our support for initiatives like this demonstrates our dedication to the communities we serve and those whose compassion inspires us every day. To learn more about how we connect with our communities or to find more about our Putnam Offices, please click the buttons below!
Sycamore Elementary School Choir recently went on a field trip to the Cedar Hills retirement center, and we were glad for the opportunity to sponsor again this year. The sponsorship covered meals and supplies for the children. The choir performed songs for the residents and enjoyed time outdoors.
Pictured above, left to right: Christy Smith, Sycamore Elementary Accounting Assistant, and Abby McCann, Cookeville Assistant Office Manager
Our support for initiatives like this demonstrates our dedication to the communities we serve and the students whose compassion inspires us every day. To learn more about how we connect with our communities or to find more about our Cookeville Office, please click the buttons below!
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