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Tag: Wilson County

Wilson County includes First Freedom Bank’s Lebanon Office.

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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Our Bank History
First Freedom shows support at FFA event.

First Freedom Shows Support at FFA Event

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

First Freedom showed its support to the Tennessee FFA Foundation by sponsoring a table at their annual Ham Breakfast. For the past nine years, this fundraiser has auctioned off price-winning hams while attendees enjoy breakfast, with all monies raised going back to the organization.  

This year, the country style ham sold for $25,000 and the Packer Style ham sold for $18,500. As a bonus, keynote speaker Trace Adkins provided a signed cowboy hat that was auctioned off for $2,500.

In attendance to represent First Freedom was, from left to right, John Lancaster, Chairman and CEO, J.B. Owens, EVP and Director of Commercial Banking, Sarah Poss, VP and Director of Retail Banking, Shelia Ferrell, SVP and Managerial Lender, and Phillip Vance, VP and Managerial Lender. In attendance but not pictured was Laura Johnson, SVP and ISO & Deposit Operations Manager.

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 support of the Tennessee FFA Foundation at this event. 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
First Freedom Recognizes FSRs with Chairman's Cup Award

First Freedom Recognizes Employees with Chairman’s Cup Award

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Press Releases.

First Freedom recognized several Financial Services Representatives (FSR) this past quarter for exceptional job performance and for exceeding their individual goals for enhancing and broadening customer relationships. Their outstanding performance earned them the prestigious honor of Chairman’s Cup Member for the quarter.

Congratulations to the following staff for qualifying for Chairman’s Cup:

Abby McCann, Cookeville FSR Manager

Alexia Borrero, Lebanon FSR

Blake Smith, prior Lebanon FSR Manager, now Accounting Clerk

Chrissy Wright, Lebanon FSR Manager

Jessica Boyd, Cookeville FSR

Kaye Fajardo, Providence FSR

Miah Lamb, Providence FSR Manager & Personal Banker

Rebecca Birman, Gainesboro FSR Manager

Shelby Meadows, Gainesboro FSR

Teola Ragland, prior Algood FSR Manager & Personal Banker, now Algood Assistant Manager

Abby McCann received additional recognition as the Chairman’s Cup Top Performer for achieving the highest overall performance score among all participants.

Pictured back row and left to right is Kenny Beavers, Retail Executive, Miah, Shelby, Rebecca, and John Lancaster, Chairman & CEO. Pictured front row and left to right is Sarah Poss, Vice President & Director of Retail Banking, Kaye, Alexia, and Tatum Ortlepp, Retail Banking Sales Manager.

At First Freedom Bank, we look for opportunities to recognize and reward team members for exceptional performance, as we know that they are critical to our success as a bank. We have great people at all of our offices and in all of our markets. If you would like to learn more about these locations, or even just about us as a bank, click the buttons below.

Office Locations
About Us
Sarah Poss

First Freedom’s Sarah Poss Graduates Banking School

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Press Releases.

First Freedom Bank is proud to announce that Sarah Poss, Vice President and Director of Retail Banking, has graduated from The Southeastern School of Banking in Nashville.  

Held on the campus of Belmont University, this 70-hour program provides a comprehensive education in general banking studies. Spanning across two years, students participate in on-site learning, a virtual banking simulation, and home studies.  The Southeastern School boasts a long legacy of banking education, having been established in 1939. Its curriculum focuses on critical baking functions, developing analytical skills, and honing management techniques.

Poss has more than nine years of banking experience. She joined First Freedom in 2015 as a Financial Services Representative and rapidly progressed through the retail side of the bank. She has also gained a valuable background in bank operations where she is credited with establishing our branch audit program and online account-opening capabilities, in addition to serving as a BSA analyst. 

Poss earned a B.S in Anthropology from Middle Tennessee State University. She is currently pursuing her MBA through Tennessee Tech University. Professionally, Poss has completed the Tennessee Bankers Association’s Branch Leadership Series.

Rooted in Our Community

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. None are bigger supporters of this mission than our leadership team. Click the button below to learn more about who makes up that team.

Interested in what First Freedom can offer you with your checking account? Check out our personal checking conveniences with the button below.

Our Leadership Team
Personal Checking Conveniences

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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Learn About Personal Conveniences

First Freedom Sponsors Event Benefiting WEMA

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

First Freedom sponsored Leadership Wilson’s Cornhole Tournament. The tournament was a fundraising effort for the Wilson County Emergency Management Agency (WEMA). With the proceeds raised, the 11 WEMA stations throughout the county received a six-month supply of bottled water and a new set of cornhole boards each.

Pictured are the members of the First Freedom team, from left to right, Ryan Woodall, AVP and Relationship Manager, and Phillip Vance, VP and Relationship Manager.

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 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 Announces Promotions

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, New Hires/Promotions, Press Releases.

Sarah Poss has been promoted to Director of Retail Banking. Poss previously served as the Assistant Director of Retail Banking and assumes the role from her predecessor, Kenny Beavers, as he transitions into retirement.

“Sarah Poss is an excellent choice to lead our Retail Banking Division,” stated John Lancaster, Chairman and CEO of First Freedom, “She has held every position on the Retail side of the bank and has operational efficiencies, as well. She is immensely qualified and highly regarded among her peers.”

Poss began her career with First Freedom as a Financial Service Representative (FSR) in January of 2015 and advanced rapidly through the retail side of the bank.  She has served as FSR Manager, Training Coordinator, Personal Banker, Providence Office Manager, Virtual Office Manager, and Marketing Manager.  She has also gained a valuable background in bank operations where she is credited with establishing our branch audit program and online account-opening capabilities, in addition to serving as a BSA analyst. 

A graduate of Watertown High School, Poss earned a B.S. in Anthropology from Middle Tennessee State University and has completed additional coursework in Accounting and Economics through Vol State Community College.  She is currently pursuing her MBA through Tennessee Tech University. Professionally, Poss has completed the Tennessee Bankers Association’s Branch Leadership Series and is currently enrolled in their Southeastern School of Banking program.  

Tatum Ortlepp has been promoted to Retail Banking Sales Manager. Ortlepp previously served as the Assistant Office Manager at the bank’s main office. In her new role, she will oversee all things sales and service-related in our delivery system. 

“When it comes to the customer experience, Tatum Ortlepp is the Gold Standard,” stated Lancaster, “Her professionalism and her ability to educate and enhance every customer’s visit is unparalleled. I’m excited to see her in this role.”

Another great example of “Promotion from Within,” Ortlepp joined First Freedom in July of 2018 as a Financial Service Representative (FSR).  She was promoted to Personal Banker (PB) in 2019 and Senior PB in 2022. In January of 2023, she was promoted to Bank Officer and Assistant Office Manager of the Lebanon Office, where she has done an excellent job in continuously improving sales and product knowledge among the staff.  Consistently ranking as a top performer, Ortlepp was voted by her peers as the bank’s Red Carpet Service award winner in 2021. She also maintains additional responsibilities as our Shareholder Services representative.

Ortlepp is a graduate of Wilson Central High School and has completed numerous courses through the Tennessee Bankers Association.

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.

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