FFB&T Newsroom

Marion Branch of FFBT Participates in Sand Sculpting Contest to Benefit CASA of Grant County

On Saturday, July 18th, FFBT sponsored and participated in the First Annual Sand Sculpting Contest to benefit CASA of Grant County. The event was created and led by FFBT employee Michael Belcher’s 11 year old son, Bradley, and 7 year old daughter, Lauren. Bradley Belcher has been involved in several fundraisers in the area and especially enjoys helping organizations that benefit kids. The Community Foundation of Grant County previously recognized his work by naming him Youth Philanthropist of the Year. After discussing the organizations that needed help, Bradley and Lauren chose CASA and decided on a sand sculpture contest. This event was held in memory of Pastor Andy Schramm, who dedicated many years to CASA and Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The event was held at The Splash House in Marion. Along with First Farmers, Paddock View Residential Center and Westminster Presbyterian Church also served as sponsors. All three organizations and 10 additional teams participated in the event as well. Teams could contain up to four members and they had from 1:00-6:00 to build their creation. They had an 8’ x 12’ area to work in and IMI donated over 63 tons of sand for the event. The sand was delivered courtesy of Thompson Trucking, and the city of Marion has agreed to store the 63 tons of sand for use next year.

The First Farmers team consisted of Lanita Ferre’, Katie Smock, and James Norris, all of our Marion branch. They build a turtle (picture shown below). Michael Belcher teamed up with Dawn Darga to create Frosty the Sandman (also pictured below). At the end of the contest, several awards were given out. The first was the Schramm Family Award, which was voted on by the Schramm family. The winner of this award was Carey Services. The second award was the People’s Choice Award and was given to the group that collected the most money. This award went to Westminster Presbyterian, who had spent a lot of time collecting money in memory of Pastor Schramm. The final award was the Golden Pail Award, given to the group with the best spirit and who had the most fun. This award went to Paddock View Residential Center.

First Farmers Bank & Trust was very excited to participate in this event and looks forward to participating again next year. It’s great to see employees, and employees’ families, doing so  much for their community. 

  

First Farmers Financial Corporation Welcomes New Board Member

John O’Donnell has been added to the Board of Directors of First Farmers Financial Corporation, the parent company of First Farmers Bank & Trust. O’Donnell resides in Kokomo and is the owner of Reality Investors. John has an extensive background in the financial industry. He began his banking career in 1973 with Union Bank (now Key Bank) and worked there for 11 years as head of trust investments. After moving to American Fletcher Bank (now Chase Bank) in Indianapolis to work in the investment area, John returned to Kokomo with First National Bank in Kokomo as Vice President. During that time, he also formed First National Investments and served as President of the organization. In 2004, he became President and board member of First National Bank and Regional President for Harris Bank in 2006.

John is the current chairman of the Kokomo Howard County Chamber of Commerce, a Vice President of Finance of the Sagamore Council Boy Scouts of America, a board member of the Kokomo Family YMCA, and a member of the Elder Board at Fairview Baptist Church. He currently spends his time working on real estate investments and has been a client of First Farmers Bank & Trust for over 20 years.

John earned his degree from Indiana University’s School of Business and currently resides in Kokomo with his wife Patti. They have 3 children: Ann Cleary, who resides in Leesburg, VA with her husband, David and son, Will, Laura Misinec, who is currently serving as a J.A.G. Officer in Iraq with the U.S. Army with husband, Marcus, who is also a J.A.G. Officer currently serving in Iraq, and Matthew O’Donnell, who resides in Kokomo with his wife, Meagan.

Cook & Belle to Perform at the Cass County 4-H Fair

On Thursday, July 16th at 7:00PM, Cook & Belle will be performing at the Cass County 4-H Fair. Seth Cook will be performing with them as well. Bret Cook & Michelle Belle are natives of Muncie. Their music mixes passion, soul, and a gospel influence that creates a unique country sound. Make sure to stop by the Cass County Fair: You don't want to miss this event! Admission is free, courtesy of First Farmers Bank & Trust!

IT'S BACK! Find a Friend at the Howard County Fair and WIN $1000!!

Come join First Farmers Bank & Trust at the Howard County 4-H Fair from July 13-18. If you can find a friend from First Farmers Bank & Trust (hint: They will be wearing an FFBT shirt), go up to them and say "I Found a Friend!", and you will be entered into a drawing to win $1000 CASH at the end of the fair as well as other great prizes that will be given away each night of the fair. You will be able to find your friends Mon-Fri from 5:00-9:00pm and on Saturday from 3:00-8:00pm. All you have to do is say "I FOUND A FRIEND!". Each friend will be carrying a limited number of tickets, so come early!! After the fair is over, we will post the winning ticket number for the $1000 CASH on our website at http://www.ffbt.com. If you are the winner, stop by any of our 18 branch locations to redeem your prize. Be sure to bring your winning ticket with you!

As usual, we will be providing shade and water at our hospitality tent. We look forward to seeing you there!

Immediate family members of FFBT employees not eligible.
Need not be present to win $1000 cash prize.
Results will be posted online at www.ffbt.com.
No purchase necessary.
Eligibility not dependent on purchase.
Proceeds subject to all applicable reporting agencies.

FFBT Welcomes New Employees

Deborah Key will be working at our Amboy branch as a part-time card processor. She has worked as a receptionist and legal secretary in the Marion area for many years. Deborah is anxious to learn more about FFBT.

 

 

 

Melissa Scales has worked for FFBT previously through our school to work program. She is currently attending Ball State University. Melissa will be working at Converse temporarily doing scanning on a part-time basis. We are glad to have her back!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pamela Lindley joins FFBT from Central Bank. She has been in bookkeeping and proof operations at Central Bank for 12 years. Pam is familiar with the Kokomo community and will be working at our Kokomo South branch as a teller and back-up CSR on a full time basis.

 

 

 

Kortni Beachy recently returned to Swayzee after working in management and sales in Florida. She previously worked as a substitute teacher at Oak Hill Schools and will be working as a teller at First Farmers’ Greentown location. Kortni enjoys one on one client relationships and looks forward to growing her career in the financial industry.

 

 

 

 

 

Patricia Garvin is a native of Miami County and recently joined FFBT as a receptionist at the Converse location. Previous employment includes Director of Inside Sales with FDL/OFG Kokomo and Receptionist/Sales Secretary with Kofabco in Peru. She looks forward to learning more about banking operations.

 

 

 

 

 

Nancy Dietrich is a native of the North Judson region and recently joined FFBT as a part time teller at the North Judson location. Nancy has several years of experience in the financial industry, most recently with Bank of Indiana. She hopes to have the opportunity to provide old fashioned customer service to FFBT customers.

 

 

 

 

 

Melody Scalf is a native of Howard County and recently joined First Farmers as Consumer Lender/Mortgage Loan Underwriter in the mortgage department at Converse. She has spent the previous nine years as the office manager/mortgage processor at Mortgage City, Inc in Kokomo and is looking forward to learning more about consumer loans and the banking aspects of mortgages.

 

 

Cody Reaves is participating in the bank's School-to-Work Program. He is currently a senior at Oak Hill High School and will be working at our Converse office as a part time teller.

 

 

 

 

Jill Armstrong will be working out of our Converse office as a commercial loan processor. She has 15 years of experience in the banking and mortgage industries, acting as a mortgage processor for 9 of those years. She is eager to learn more about FFBT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teri Butler was also was previously employeed by FFBT as a teller at our Peru River branch, and has recently been working in the accounting department at Ace Hardware in Peru. After realizing that she missed the customers and atmosphere at FFBT, she decided to come back, working as a full time teller at the Peru River branch.

FFBT Welcomes Several Summer Interns

Every summer, First Farmers provides internships for college students and recent high school graduates in the various departments of the bank.  This year, we are happy to welcome four new interns and four returning interns. 

Jacqueline Collins joined First Farmers Bank & Trust this summer as a receptionist and clerical assistant in the loan department at the Peru Square location. She is a recent Lewis Cass graduate and plans to attend Northern Kentucky University in the fall.

 

 

 

 

 

Courtney Comer joined First Farmers Bank & Trust’s operations department as a teller in the South Central area. She is from the Tipton area and is attending Indiana Wesleyan University. She plans to graduate in 2012 and is studying Accounting and Finance.

 

 

Molly Naphew joined First Farmers Bank & Trust at the Peru River location, where she will serve as a teller. She is from the Walton area and is attending Indiana University in Bloomington. She plans to graduate in 2012 and is studying business.

 

 

Katie Smock joined First Farmers Bank & Trust’s newest branch location in Marion where she will work as a teller. She is from the Marion area and is attending Indiana Wesleyan University. She plans to graduate in 2010 with a degree in Finance.

Amy McKinney returned after working as a teller last summer and over school breaks. This year, she will be located at the Sheridan location. She is from Tipton and is attending Purdue University. Amy plans to graduate in 2011 and is majoring in selling and sales management and minoring in organizational leadership and supervision.

 

 

Daniel Wyant returned after working as a teller last summer. This year, he will be located in the North Central branches, including Converse, Amboy, and Peru. He is from Bunker Hill and is attending Manchester College. He plans to graduate in 2011 and is studying Accounting.

James Norris returned after working as a teller last summer. This year, he will be located at our newest branch location in Marion. He is from Swayzee and is attending Purdue University. He plans to graduate in 2011 and is majoring in accounting and management and minoring in finance.

 

Andrew Norris returned after working as a teller last summer. This year, he is located at our Greentown location. He is from Swayzee and is attending Purdue University. He plans to graduate in Winter 2010 majoring in Actuarial Science and minoring in management and statistics.

New Marion Branch Holds Grand Opening Celebration

On Friday, June 19th, First Farmers Bank & Trust held an open house to celebrate the grand opening of their newest branch location at 830 N Baldwin in Marion, Indiana. This marks the 18th branch location for FFBT. The open house began at noon with a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Marion-Grant County Chamber of Commerce. Remote radio broadcasts were held by WXXC and WCJC and a light lunch was provided for those in attendance.

 

The turnout for the event was great, and FFBT appreciates everyone who came out to support the branch opening. “I am incredibly pleased with the strong turnout. I think it speaks volumes for the reputation of the organization and the aesthetics of the new facility,” states Tade Powell, Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

Michael Belcher, who joined First Farmers last summer, will serve as Branch Manager of the location. He is from the Grant County area and is excited to bring community based banking back to his Marion clients. Lanita Ferre, who has served as a teller and CSR in other branch locations, has become Assistant Branch Manager. Tade Powell, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, has relocated to this branch and is a resident of Grant County. Alicia Transier has moved from the Converse location to become the Customer Service Representative for the Marion location. For the summer, FFBT also has employed two summer interns, James Norris and Katie Smock. James has worked in the summer intern program previously and is attending Purdue University. Katie Smock is a Marion resident and is attending Indiana Wesleyan University.