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TennCommunity Volunteers with Wilson Co. Schools

First Freedom & TennCommUNITY Volunteer with Wilson Co. Schools

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Community Involvement.

First Freedom, as a member of TennCommUNITY, had staff volunteer with Wilson County Schools to help pack food boxes for its weekend food program. The weekend food program is an initiative of the school system’s Family Resource Center, which serves as a resource and support hub for students and families.

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.

Staff are pictured with other TennCommUNITY members and include Jennifer Mancuso, Mt. Juliet Personal Banker, Mary Cate Hedge, Lebanon Personal Banker, Meagan Roberts, Providence Personal Banker, and Sarah Poss, VP and Director of Retail Banking. 

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.

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Sycamore Back to School Bash

First Freedom Welcomes Sycamore Students Back to School

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Community Involvement.

First Freedom Bank hosted a table at Sycamore Elementary School’s back-to-school bash. This annual event is intended to help transition students into the new school year and to give them an opportunity to meet or reacquaint themselves with teachers and staff. Local businesses are invited to host tables to give out goodies to the kids and their families.

First Freedom has been a proud adopter of Sycamore Elementary School since 2016.

Pictured from left to right is Holly Cox, Cookeville FSR, and Rachel Honaker, Putnam County Market Manager.

Becoming a part of the Putnam County community has become a highlight in our bank’s history. We’ve enjoyed getting to know our customers here and building lasting relationship and connections. Being an adopter for Sycamore Elementary School is a great example of the deep commitment we have to the community in this area. For more information on the Cookeville office, or to learn about the personal checking accounts we offer, click the buttons below.

Cookeville Office
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First Freedom Sponsors FCA Golf Tournament

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Community Involvement.

First Freedom was a hole sponsor for the annual Fellowship of Christian Athlete golf tournament, held at the Pine Creek Golf Course in Mt. Juliet. John Hawkins, Vice President — Specialized Lending at First Freedom, serves on the FCA Board.

Pictured is John Hawkins with Tim Bryant, Wilson County FCA Director.

Want to Learn More About Wilson County FCA?

For more information about Wilson County’s local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, you can click here to visit their website.

Experience the Difference a Community Bank Can Make.

First Freedom Bank is an independent, community focused, full-service bank with offices in Lebanon, Mt. Juliet, Cookeville, Algood, and Gainesboro, Tennessee.

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First Freedom a Sponsor for Student Athlete Award Event

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Community Involvement, Sponsorships/Community.

First Freedom Bank sponsored lunch for the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce’s Best All-Around Student Athlete of the Year Awards Luncheon. Eligible nominees were one male and one female from each high school in Wilson County that were selected by their Athletic Director, Coach, or Principal. These nominees were chosen for their excellence in both academics and athletics. If chosen as the final recipients, the students received a scholarship to the school of their choice.

This year’s scholarship award recipients were Sophia Beverly Allen of Green Hill High School and Jackson Thomas Allen of Wilson Central high School.

Pictured from left to right is Tatum Ortlepp, Retail Banking Sales Manager, Shelia Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Managerial Lender, Colton Dowell, keynote speaker and Tennessee Titans Wide Receiver, Phillip Vance, Vice President and Managerial Lender and Division Vice Chair of the Wilson County Sports Council, and J.B. Owens, Executive Vice President and Director of Commercial Banking.

First Freedom Donates to Algood Library Program

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Community Involvement.

In support of the Algood Library’s summer reading program, First Freedom bank donated goody bags to be given to program participants. As it is Older American’s Month, the library is using this as their focus for May.

Pictured from left to right is Teola Ragland, Algood FSR Manager / Personal Banker and Rochelle Turner, Algood Branch Library Manager. 

First Freedom Bank Supports Community Career Fairs

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Community Involvement.

Being in the community is a top priority for First Freedom Bank and we’ve enjoyed doing so through our participation in local career fairs. Staff have attended several over the past month, attending fairs at Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Livingston, Wilson Central High School, and Watertown High School.

Pictured top, left to right, is Sarah Poss, Vice President and Director of Retail Banking, and Teola Ragland, Algood FSR Manager, at TCAT.

Pictured bottom, left to right, is Maliea Oakley, Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources, and Sarah Poss at Watertown High School.

First Freedom Sponsor for Wilson Books from Birth Fundraiser

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Community Involvement.

First Freedom Bank sponsored a table for Wilson Books from Birth’s annual fundraiser, the Imagination Dinner. Advertised as the  “wackiest night you will attend,” the event boasts themed tables and costumes, a live and silent auction, tongue-in-cheek challenges, and table awards. All proceeds go to Wilson Books from Birth.

First Freedom’s table theme was based on the book Luke Goes to Bat, and included a variety of baseball items and vintage game flair. The table won the “Best All Around” award.

Those in attendance included Kayla Ring, Assistant Vice President and Construction Manager, Helen Green, Lebanon Administrative Assistant, Sarah Poss, Vice President and Director of Retail Banking, Denise Bingham, Assistant Vice President and Providence Office Manager, Shelia Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Managerial Lender, Tatum Ortlepp, Retail Banking Sales Manager, Maliea Oakley, Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources, Mary Cate Holbrook, Lebanon Personal Banker, and Holly Wolfe, Lebanon Personal Banker.

First Freedom Raises Funds for United Way

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Community Involvement.

First Freedom Bank has once again conducted an employee campaign to raise funds for United Way of Wilson County and the Upper Cumberland. The bank is a long-time supporter of this organization and joins their fundraising efforts each year. This year the bank raised $7,500, which was contributed to over 40 local non-profit programs.

United Way’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in Wilson County and the Upper Cumberland through the combined efforts of individuals and organizations working together. First Freedom’s Ryan Woodall, Assistant Vice President and Relationship Manager, serves on their board of directors.

Pictured are First Freedom staff with their campaign contribution check.

First Freedom Hosts Financial Literacy Program at Senior Center

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Community Involvement.

First Freedom hosted a Financial Literacy Program at the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center on March 25th. The program focused on common scams targeting older adults and offered strategies to avoid fraudsters and financial exploitation.

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

First Freedom’s Montgomery Delivers Books to Students

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Community Involvement.

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.