Jeff Jackson
Jeff Jackson became Chattanooga market leader at First Tennessee in March 2016 replacing Keith Sanford who moved down the street to take the helm of the Tennessee Aquarium. Over the last year, Mr. Jackson has stepped into a higher profile in both the company as well as within the community.
As he reflected on his first year, he noted the continued importance of relationships, a hallmark of Chattanooga’s oldest local bank for 41 years. Last year, First Tennessee increased their Community Reinvestment dollars by $400,000 allowing them to provide additional support for the Urban League, Habitat for Humanity and Partnership for Families, Children and Adults. By the end of 2016, the bank provided more than $1 million dollars to various charitable organizations in Chattanooga, with their employees providing 1,400 volunteer hours in additional support.
First Tennessee is often the first bank called when the community experiences a time of need, said officials. Within hours of the Woodmore tragedy, First Tennessee partnered with the Hunter Worley Foundation to accept funds on behalf of those impacted by the tragedy and stepped forward with $10,000 in matching dollars. Those funds are about to be put to good use in the establishment of the Woodmore Place for Hope and Healing at Woodmore Elementary School.
Another highlight of Mr. Jackson’s first year was participating in the Grateful Gobbler, which raised over $200,000 to meet the needs of homeless families living at the Maclellan Family Shelter as they work toward a goal of self-sufficiency. “Knowing that every penny raised would go into service delivery was something that made this an easy investment for us,” said Mr. Jackson.
He said he also took pride in the investment the bank made with Partnership for Families, Children and Adults. “We quietly reached out to Partnership’s leadership to see if we could provide funds to assist some of their consumer credit counseling clients who met program requirements to qualify for their first home. We know the importance of home ownership and appreciate the important work done by Chattanooga’s oldest social service agency. Our bank president Brian Jordan, joined me to make the surprise announcement to Partnership staff. Knowing we were making such a big difference in the lives of families is something that still resonates as one of the highlights of my first year.”
Mr. Jackson and his wife Ronna-Renee co-chaired the recent Pink! gala benefiting the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center along with Amuseum, benefiting the Creative Discovery Museum. “While we enjoy being active in the community, we know our role is that of caretaker for a brand and company that is very strong. We are honored to represent the bank and do all we can personally to support efforts to strengthen our community and the people who live here.”
In the midst of an ever-growing competitive market, the bank was able to increase their profits locally by 23 percent, grew commercial loans by 14 percent and deposits by 13 percent, which are all time highs for the market, said officials. Jackson attributes this success to the team of bankers First Tennessee has in place. “I work with some of the best professionals in town,” he said. “They have a real passion for what they do and come up with some creative ways to meet customer needs. We know that while some relationships are built over generations, some are built when there’s a time of need. Our team is equally adept in both scenarios.”
As he begins his second year as market leader, Mr. Jackson notes that while there are new opportunities to continue building relationships with new and existing customers, there are strategies the bank will use to continue to be ‘top of mind’ in Chattanooga. “We not only focus on our customers, but also on our team,” said Mr. Jackson. “We take the fact that we’re one of the best places to work in Chattanooga very seriously. We know if our team is happy, they will build their careers with us and in turn, will build relationships with our customers. It’s a winning strategy for all of us.”
He noted the increased presence of new names in the banking industry coming into the market place. “We enjoy a robust relationship with Chattanooga that has been built over the last 41 years. We know that other financial institutions will come into Chattanooga, but we also know our customers and they know us. Because of the strength of those relationships, we believe we have true staying power, and I’m honored to be a part of such a great company.”