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Tag: Community

Jennifer Mancuso and Miah Lamb posing with Betty Morgan.

First Freedom Volunteers at Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center

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

On February 28th, First Freedom Bank employees volunteered at the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center (MJSAC), where they served root beer floats to attendees. This event provided a great opportunity to engage with the community and express our gratitude for local seniors.

First Freedom Bank is dedicated to supporting the communities it serves and is appreciative of the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center for hosting this lively event. The team members had a great time connecting with everyone who came by to enjoy a float!

Pictured above are Jennifer Mancuso, Mt. Juliet Personal Banker, and Miah Lamb, Providence Personal Banker, alongside MJSAC member Betty Morgan. Additionally, Miah is depicted below serving root beer floats at the event.

Miah Lamb serving root beer floats to MJSAC Members

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 interact with the buttons below!

Community Involvement
Customer Testimonials

First Freedom Sponsors Valentine Gala

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

First Freedom Bank was honored to sponsor and attend the Lebanon Senior Citizen Center’s annual Valentine Gala, a formal dinner and dance held at The Mill at Lebanon on February 15th. This event serves as one of the center’s largest fundraisers, and we are glad to offer our support.

First Freedom associates, including Holly Wolfe, Lebanon Senior Personal Banker, and Brooke Weldy, Lebanon Personal Banker, are pictured at the event alongside other Gala attendees.

To learn more about our recent involvement in the community, please interact with the button below!

Community News

First Freedom Supports Cookeville-Putnam Co Annual Meeting

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

First Freedom Bank was proud to support and attend the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber‘s Annual Meeting held at the Leslie Town Center on February 11th. This event provided a valuable opportunity to network and learn more about the positive impact the Chamber has on our local economy. This year, the keynote speaker was Bobby Wilder, Tennessee Tech Head Football Coach. We value our partnership with the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber and are proud to support their efforts to foster growth and prosperity in our region.

Pictured in attendance are Meleah Payne, Cookeville FSR, Rachel Honaker, VP & Putnam County Market Manager, Sarah Poss, First VP & Director of Retail Banking, Donna Elrod, VP and Gainesboro Office Manager, Bryan Sweet, Cookeville Personal Banker, Ashley Tippit, Gainesboro Assistant Office Manager, and Kelly Emory, Cookeville Assistant Office Manager.

First Freedom Bank believes in the power of community and collaboration. We are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a vibrant and thriving business environment. To learn more about how we can support you and your business, please interact with the buttons below!

Business Loans
Business Conveniences

First Freedom Supports Annual Mt. Juliet Chamber Celebration

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

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.

Community Involvement
About First Freedom Bank

First Freedom Recognizes Employees with Chairman’s Cup Award

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News.

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 Sponsors Rehab23 Christmas Breakfast

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

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!

Community News

First Freedom Volunteers for Wilson County Christmas for All

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

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.

Community News
Customer Testimonials

First Freedom Supports Wilson County Christmas for All

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

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.

Community Involvement
Experience the Difference

First Freedom Proudly Supports FCA

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

First Freedom Bank sponsored a table at the annual Wilson County Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Banquet. This year, the event hosted guest speaker Dr. Gene Allen, successful entrepreneur and author of Taking Care of Business, and held an interview with Morgan Price, 2024 USAG National Champion.

First Freedom’s John Hawkins, Vice President – Specialized Lending, currently serves on the FCA Board of Directors.

Bank staff in attendance were John Bradshaw, President / COO & CLO, Christy Trammel, Administrative Assistant, Helen Green, Administrative Assistant, Meagan Roberts, Providence Personal Banker, Phillip Vance, VP and Relationship Manager, Tatum Ortlepp, Retail Banking Sales Manager, Denise Bingham, AVP and Providence Office Manager, and John Hawkins.

First Freedom Bank’s first office and headquarters opened in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 2006. We are a true community bank: of our more than1,000 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 about our bank’s beginnings and mission, click the links below.

Lebanon Office
About Our Bank

Brew with the Blue at Vol State

First Freedom Joins Brew with the Blue at Vol State

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

First Freedom’s Teola Ragland volunteered at a Brew with the Blue event on Vol State’s Cookeville campus. Held periodically, this free event offers an opportunity for local law enforcement and students to meet and engage in a positive environment.

Teola currently serves as the Assistant Office Manager at our Algood Office.

Pictured left to right is Putnam County Sgt. Cody Meadows, Vol State Chief Pennington, Teola Ragland, Vol State Sgt. Justin Medlin, and Putnam County Deputy Mike Phillips. 

First Freedom joined the Algood and Cookeville communities in 2016 after the acquisition of the Upper Cumberland locations. From the first day here, we have made it a priority to continue to build and strengthen our ties within the community. Learn more about our two Putnam County offices by clicking the buttons below.

Algood Office
Cookeville Office