posted August 19, 2008
FirstBank's first Chattanooga area financial center is scheduled to open its doors downtown on Thursday, announced FirstBank Chattanooga City president Sam Jones.
"Our downtown financial center is in a vibrant part of our community and easy to find," Mr. Jones said. "Our team is looking forward to introducing FirstBank's business model to Chattanooga."
The location will be on the first floor of the 401 Building at the corner of Fourth and Chestnut streets downtown and will serve as the Chattanooga headquarters. The second financial center, scheduled to open in September, will be at 2021 Hamilton Place Boulevard.
FirstBank entered the Chattanooga market three years ago, establishing a mortgage origination office on Shallowford Road and a residential construction lending unit. Associates from those offices will be divided between the centers this fall.
In 2007, to increase its presences and establish it as a major competitor, FirstBank acquired a financial center in Dayton (referred to as FB Bank) and opened a loan production office in Cleveland.
"Chattanooga has a strong, diverse economy, and we have aggressive plans to increase our share of the area market," said Doug Cruickshanks, president and CEO of FirstBank. "Now is the time to maximize our efforts in this region."
The bank's associates are planning a grand opening event on Thursday, from 4-7 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. FirstBank Chairman Jim Ayers and members of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce will officiate at the ceremony.
FirstBank is Tennessee's largest independently owned and operated bank, with locations across the state. The bank, headquartered in Lexington, Tn., services every major metropolitan market in the state and, with nearly $2 billion in total assets, has the resources to provide a comprehensive variety of financial services and products.
FirstBank has been recognized as one of Tennessee's best employers by Business Tennessee magazine, the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management.
FirstBank follows a community-banking model adopted by its charter, Farmers State Bank, more than 100 years ago in Scotts Hill, Tn. FirstBank is committed to its role as a leader in the communities it serves. That commitment is reflected by the Ayers Foundation Scholars program, a scholarship fund established by FirstBank Chairman Jim Ayers to advance higher education for young people in Tennessee.
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