The 11^th 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 was a Title Sponsor for this year’s Wilson County Best All-Around Student Athlete Award.  Hosted by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce, this event recognizes a male and female student athlete from each Wilson County High School, then one female and one male student athlete is selected of that group to be the recipient of a $1,500 scholarship. The winners this year were Miles Fitzpatrick from Friendship Christian School and Meredith Eller from Wilson Central High School. This year’s guest speaker was Jesse Perry, Tennessee Volunteer offensive lineman.

Pictured above from L to R: Ryan Woodall, Vice President and Relationship Manager, Maliea Oakley, Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources, Tatum Ortlepp, Assistant Vice President and Retail Banking Sales Manager, Shelia Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Managerial Lender, Jesse Perry, Tennessee Volunteers Offensive Lineman, Phillip Vance, First Vice President and Relationship Manager, J.B. Owens, Executive Vice President and Director of Commercial Banking, and John Lancaster, Chairman and CEO.

To learn more about our recent involvement in the community, click the buttons below!

First Freedom was a table sponsor at the annual Wilson Books from Birth Imagination Dinner, held this past week at the Farm Bureau Expo Center. Funds raised during the Imagination Dinner go toward the Books from Birth program, which provides books at no cost to children across the county. Each table chooses a theme based on a children’s book. Our theme this year was based on Full Moon Pups. We were delighted to be awarded “Most Whimsical,” which marks the third year in a row that we have received an award for our tablescape. This was a night of fun and celebration, and we are always happy to be part of it!

Pictured above from Left – Right: Trey Watkins, Senior Personal Banker and Marketing Specialist, Shelia Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Managerial Lender, Kayla Ring, Vice President and Construction Manager, Sarah Poss, First Vice President and Director of Retail Banking, Tatum Ortlepp, Assistant Vice President and Retail Banking Sales Manager, Blake Smith, Accounting Clerk, Brooke Weldy, Assistant Vice President and Mt. Juliet Office Manager.

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!

In honor of April being recognized as National Financial Literacy Month, First Freedom hosted a Fraud Bingo Day at Cedar Seniors this past week. Fraud Bingo educates players on the different types of financial fraud to better prepare them for real-life scenarios. For more financial educational programs from the American Bankers Association, click here!

Cedar Seniors, Inc. is located in Lebanon and provides community meals and activities for local senior citizens.

Pictured above, from left to right, is Blake Smith, Accounting Clerk, Tatum Ortlepp, AVP and Retail Sales Manager, and Ken Nelson Sr., President of Cedar Seniors. Pictured below are Fraud Bingo winners.

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 Wilson County FCA’s annual banquet fundraiser. To learn more about our main office in Lebanon, or to read more community blogs, click the links below.