Rehab 23 hosted their annual Christmas Breakfast this past week, allowing members of the community to show their support for local emergency responders. Rehab 23 is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to providing support to Wilson County First Responders. This year’s guest speaker was Tyler Smith, a Forensics Analyst for the U.S. Secret Service. First Freedom was happy to co-sponsor and attend this year’s breakfast. Rehab 23 accepts donations through their website or drop off can be arranged with the organization.
Pictured Above from L – R: Meagan Brown, Lebanon Personal Banker, Denise Bingham, VP and Providence Office Manager, Jim Carrol, President of Rehab 23, Tyler Smith, Network Intrusion Forensics Analyst, U.S. Secret Service, and Tatum Ortlepp, AVP and Retail Banking Sales Manager.
To discover more about First Freedom Bank and our involvement in the community, please use the buttons below.
First Freedom Bank sponsored a table at the annual Wilson County Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) fundraiser. Formerly an evening banquet, it was converted to a breakfast event this year, with Darryl Strawberry, former New York Met, as the keynote speaker.
In attendance, from left to right, was Sarah Poss, First VP and Director of Retail Banking, John Bradshaw, President / COO & CLO, Helen Green, Administrative Assistant, Li Tisha Jobe, Lebanon FSR II, Tatum Ortlepp, AVP and Retail Banking Sales Manager, Trey Watkins, Providence Personal Banker, and John Hawkins, VP / Specialized Lending and FCA Board Member.
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 about our bank’s beginnings and mission, click the links below.
The Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce held its annual golf tournament at Pine Creek Golf Course, and First Freedom was happy to sponsor a team and host a hospitality tent for the event. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the chamber.
Pictured above, left to right: Ashley Montgomery, Mt. Juliet Office Manager & Vice President, Sarah Poss, First Vice President & Director of Retail Banking, Trey Watkins, Providence Personal Banker
Pictured below left to right: Ian Isbell, Sam Stradley, Philip Vance, First Vice President & Relationship Manager, Ryan Woodall, Vice President & Relationship Manager
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.
For the 25th year in a row the Lebanon-Wilson County Chamber of Commerce held The Dr. Cary Harbrecht Memorial Golf Tournament at Five Oaks Golf & Country Club in Lebanon. First Freedom was happy to support the annual tournament with a hospitality tent and a hole sponsorship. The proceeds raised for the event go to the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce. Our team had such a great time competing in the tournament!
Pictured above is our team and hospitality tent staff, Phillip Vance, First VP and Relationship Manager, Sarah Ensey, Mt. Juliet Personal Banker, Tatum Ortlepp, AVP and Retail Banking Sales Manager, J.B. Owens, EVP and Director of Commercial Banking, John Bradshaw, President/COO & CLO, and Ryan Woodall, VP and Relationship Manager.
Pictured below is Jaylah Griffin, Lebanon FSR, and Sarah Ensey, also at our hospitality tent.
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 interactive buttons below.
First Freedom Bank was proud to once again sponsor a table at the annual Casa de Moda fashion show this past Thursday. Each year the show is complimented by a theme and the table sponsors choose how to incorporate it into their table designs. This year the theme was “decades,” and we chose to represent the 90’s!
The First Freedom Table
Local boutiques not only participated in the fashion show but also hosted booths in which attendees could shop what they saw on the runway. A portion of the boutique’s sales were donated to Wilson County CASA. We were so happy to be there and show our support!
In attendance to represent the bank was Kaitlin Wattenbarger, Providence Personal Banker, Ashley Montgomery, Vice President and Mt. Juliet Office Manager, Olivia, Shelia Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Managerial Lender, Sarah Poss, First Vice President and Director of Retail Banking, Blake Smith, Accounting Clerk, Maliea Oakley, Senior Vice President and HR Director, Tatum Ortlepp, Assistant Vice President and Retail Banking Sales Manager, and Christy Trammel, Administrative Assistant.
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The 10th Annual FFA Ham breakfast was held on Monday, the18th at the Wilson County Expo Center. First Freedom was happy to sponsor a table and support the event. The proceeds from the breakfast went to the Tennessee FFA Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports FFA students in middle and high schools. This year, the country style ham sold for an impressive $35,000!
First Freedom Bank was not only proud to be a sponsor but to also be in attendance for breakfast this year. We have been a long-time supporter of FFA and understand the important role it has in students’ agricultural and leadership development.
Pictured from L-R: J.B Owens, EVP and Director of Commercial Banking, Ryan Woodall, VP & Relationship Manager, Shelia Ferrell, SVP and Managerial Lender, John Lancaster, Chairman & CEO, Maliea Oakley, SVP & Director of HR, and Sarah Poss, First VP & Director of Retail Banking.
Our bank had its start in Wilson County in 2006 and our headquarters remains 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 the legacy of our communities, we’d welcome the opportunity to serve you. Click the buttons below to learn about the personal and business checking accounts we offer.
Christy Thompson, CRCM, has been promoted to First Vice President, announces John Bradshaw, President / COO & CLO. With this promotion, Christy will continue to serve as Chief Compliance & BSA Officer.
“Christy is beyond deserving of this promotion,” said Bradshaw. “She is a pivotal part of our team thanks to her indomitable work ethic and keen discernment and insight. We could not ask for any better leadership in these departments.”
As a legacy employee who was part of the original team that launched First Freedom, Christy’s contributions have spanned multiple departments and have had wide range of positive impacts. While she will be celebrating her 20th year with our bank this coming December, her banking career spans four decades.
Christy’s hands-on bank experience is complimented by her continued education. She earned her General Banking Diploma from the American Bankers Association (ABA), she is a graduate of the Southeastern School of Banking from the Tennessee Bankers Association (TBA) and earned the prestigious Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager designation (CRCM) from the ABA. Christy is also a member of the TBA’s Chief Compliance Officer and BSA Officer Forum.
Christy has been recognized with First Freedom’s Commitment to Excellence Award, a testament to her dedication and pride in her work. Continuously active in her hometown of Lebanon, Christy is a graduate of Leadership Wilson, has volunteered with Junior Achievement and is a lifetime member of Immanual Baptist Church. She and her husband of 39 years, Mark, reside in Lebanon and have two children and three grandchildren.
We prioritize promoting from within and are always excited to have the chance to recognize a staff member’s hard work and talents. We know that our successes are only possible with a great team, and we are proud to have that. To learn more about our team’s growth and development, click the buttons below.
Ashley Montgomery, Vice President and Mt. Juliet Office Manager, has been appointed to the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center (MJSAC) board. In her new role, she will serve on the finance committee. Ashley has been an active supporter of the center by hosting financial literacy presentations and volunteering with MJSAC events. We are excited to see her continue her work with the center.
“I’m truly honored to join the board of MJSAC,” said Ashley. “Supporting our seniors is a cause close to my heart and I’m proud to serve an organization that enriches their lives and strengthens our community.”
The Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center is located on North Mt. Juliet Road. They provide a place for adults 55 and older to enjoy recreational, educational, and social activities. The center promotes mental and physical wellness and endeavors to alleviate isolation by being a place for members to meet others in similar stages of life.
At First Freedom, we prioritize being a part of our community and appreciate the opportunity to serve our neighbors. For more information about our initiatives and impact, click the buttons below.
First Freedom’s Sarah Poss, First Vice President and Director of Retail Banking, was the recipient of The Tennessee Banker Association’s 2025 Washington Conference Scholarship.
This scholarship is awarded to a 2024 second-year student of The Southeastern School of Banking through a partnership between The Tennessee Bankers Association Young Bankers Division and the Government Relations Committee. With this scholarship, Sarah was able to attend the TBA’s annual Washington Conference, a three-day visit to D.C. which brings bankers together with bank regulators, national banking associations, and Tennessee’s congressional delegation.
Pictured above is Trace Blankenship, TBA Government Relations and Legal Committee member and partner at Spencer Fane, with Sarah Poss. Pictured below are conference attendees on the last day of congressional visits.
Sarah Poss is a member of our leadership team in her role as retail director. Each member of that team knows the importance of keeping pace with industry changes and supporting organizations like the Tennessee Bankers Association. To learn more about others in leadership, or read more blogs on staff recognition, click the buttons below.
First Freedom Bank recently hosted its annual financial literacy event at the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center (MJSAC). The event aimed to help seniors better understand essential financial topics including budgeting, fraud prevention, and money management during retirement. Attendees enjoyed a casual lunch and learn program that encouraged questions and open conversations.
Pictured at the event are Jennifer Mancuso, Mt. Juliet Personal Banker, Valissa Saindon, MJSAC Executive Director, Jennifer Pinto, MJSAC Program Coordinator, and Ashley Montgomery, VP & Mt. Juliet Office Manager. Their ongoing partnership plays a significant role in supporting the senior community through education and outreach.
To learn more about how we are celebrating Tennessee Financial Literacy Week, please click the buttons below to follow us on our social media channels!
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