First Freedom Bank hosted a table to hand out candy at Algood’s Fall Festival. Held annually, this festival also includes live music, food trucks, and entertainment for kids.
Pictured from left to right is Holly Cox, Cookeville FSR, Ladell Medley, Vice President and Cookeville Office Manager, Rachel Honaker, Algood Office Manager, and Teola Ragland, Algood FSR Manager.
Bryan Sweet is a Personal Banker at our Cookeville Office. While Bryan joined the First Freedom team in 2016, he has been in the banking industry since 2005. His first role with First Freedom was as a Financial Services Representative Manager and he later acquired an additional role as a branch auditor for the Middle Tennessee locations. In his current position as a Personal Banker, Bryan’s role is to be an expert on all of First Freedom’s products and services and to assist customers in the selection and utilization of the services. Bryan currently lives in Cookeville with his wife, two children, and two dogs.
What do you enjoy most about working at First Freedom Bank?
I enjoy the feeling of family among coworkers. We spend most of our lives at work and it really makes it easier to be away from our families at home when you have great relationships with those you work closest with.
What is something invaluable you have learned from working at First Freedom Bank?
I’ve learned to not sell myself short when it relates to my abilities. I turned down opportunities in the past because I doubted that I could perform the required tasks to be successful in a new role. Once I moved past those concerns, I have been able to grow and acquire new skills that will continue to benefit me in my career.
Do you have any degrees, special certifications, or awards?
I have a Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Technological University.
Do you have any hobbies?
I enjoy bowling in a league with long-time friends and piddling around with computers and electronics in my spare time.
What is one fact about you that you think would surprise people?
Shortly after graduating college, I worked for several years at a local radio station both on-air and behind the scenes.
Why do you think First Freedom has experienced so much success since their founding in 2006?
First Freedom has a knack for finding the best people to fill any open positions. I feel like our attention to customer service makes our customers enjoy interactions with our frontline employees, and our staff behind the scenes do a great job of providing the customer-facing employees with the tools and skills that they need to continue to provide a level of customer service unsurpassed by most competing institutions.
What is one way in which you feel First Freedom is different from most of its competitors?
Having worked for some of the competition, for me it’s the accessibility of the people who are responsible for the formation and day-to-day operations of the bank. It’s refreshing to be able to pick up the phone and talk to anyone about anything without having to go through layers of red tape.
Are you involved in any organization, clubs, or community groups?
For the last 10+ years we have been involved with a local rescue organization called A.A.R.F (All About Rescuing and Fixing). It is an organization that fosters unwanted pets, gets them spayed or neutered, and finds them fur-ever homes. We have fostered well over 150 dogs since starting with the organization and the feeling of finding that perfect match between animal and animal lover is unparalleled.
Additionally, with two daughters who have found their love for theater, my wife and I have volunteered with our local Cookeville Children’s Theater for the past few years, primarily behind the scenes. I’ve helped build and tear down sets while my wife has helped with costumes and concessions. It’s refreshing to see weeks of hard work and preparation pay off on the stage and it’s a blessing to not only know we helped to create it but to see my children perform in front of a cheering audience is the biggest reward.
