First Federal Bank Opens First Branch in Jacksonville

LAKE CITY, Fla., Feb. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- First Federal Bank's newest location will be opening in Jacksonville, FL. This is the 26^th full service banking center, accompanying locations in Macclenny, Wildlight, Yulee, and Fernandina. This new location will leverage the strong position First Federal Bank has with both mortgage services and small business lending in the Duval market.

"We are excited to open our Jacksonville branch to complement our mortgage operations center. This will allow us to better support local residents and business owners with access to a wide variety of consumer and commercial banking solutions," said John Medina, First Federal's President and CEO.

As a part of access to banking solutions from a stable institution, Jacksonville natives can enjoy several special offers that are available for a limited time. "Consumers and local businesses can benefit from these offers and enjoy banking with local, friendly bankers," says Stephanie McClendon, Chief of Community Banking. New customers can stop in to sign up for free business¹ or personal² checking with 10,000 bonus points³. An additional benefit for Jacksonville residents are special mortgage programs, one of which includes up to $10,000⁴ in down payment assistance for qualified individuals⁵. Customers can conveniently bank at the new location at 9700 Touchton Rd., via an Integrated Teller machine for extended hours, or online. The new banking center opens in February with the official ribbon cutting scheduled for April 8^th.

First Federal has received multiple honors, including America's Best Regional Banks for 2025 by Newsweek. This marks the fifth consecutive year the bank has received this recognition. The SBA also recognized First Federal for being the top Community Lender by number of loans and multiple communities have touted the institution as the 'best place to bank.'

Receiving these honors and being able to expand is a cornerstone of First Federal's foundation of being a stable place to work and bank. Because of the bank's foundation, multiple non-profits benefit through both direct donations and volunteer hours of employees. Last year, the Jacksonville Down Syndrome Association, Wealth Watchers, Inc, Family Foundations of Northeast Florida, and Clean Up Florida Waters benefited from financial contributions. With the expansion, even more worthy causes will be supported.

First Federal Bank is dedicated to helping customers achieve their financial goals through personalized banking, competitive lending solutions, and guidance in the home buying process. As Florida's only mutual savings bank, it reinvests profits back into its operations, enabling continuous improvement and innovation in its products and services.

About First Federal Bank

First Federal Bank is a leading financial institution committed to serving the needs of its customers and communities. With banking locations in northern Florida and coastal South Carolina, First Federal Bank is a community-owned bank that provides a wide range of consumer and commercial banking solutions, services, and loans. Additionally, SBA and USDA customers are served by lending offices across the Southeast and Midwest, and mortgages are offered nationwide. With over $3.8 billion in assets, First Federal is headquartered in Lake City, Florida and has a steadfast focus on innovation and customer satisfaction. The bank is consistently recognized with an "Excellent" rating from BauerFinancial, Inc. for over 20 years. Furthermore, Newsweek named First Federal the "Best Small Bank in Florida" for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023 and "Best Regional Bank" for 2024 and 2025. To learn more, visit the website at www.ffbf.com.
Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

1) Enhanced Business: $50 minimum deposit to open account. After 12 months a service charge of $14 will be assessed monthly. eStatements required, $2.00 monthly fee assessed for paper statements.
2) Enhanced Personal Checking: $50 minimum deposit to open account. $1,000 or more monthly recurring direct deposit(s) required at account opening. After 12 months a service charge of $9 will be assessed monthly. eStatements required, $2.00 monthly fee assessed for paper statements.
One (1) offer per household per account; cannot be combined with any other offer. Offers limited to new First Federal Bank customers who open an account in person at our Jacksonville branch by 06/06/2025.
3) Receive 10,000 uChoose Reward Points when you open an Enhanced Personal Checking account or an Enhanced Business Checking account. Account must be open for 90 days to earn reward points. Reward points may take up to an additional 40 days to show in your account. Must register with uChoose Rewards at uchooserewards.com to redeem points. Cash back rewards may be subject to tax reporting.
4) The Buyers First Down Payment assistance provides $10,000 to cover up to 100% of down payment and closing costs. Subject to credit approval.
5) Eligibility Requirements: To qualify, the property must be used as a primary residence, located in a Majority Minority Census Tract (MMCT) within the approved Florida Counties: Clay, Duval and Marion. Primary Residence – The property you purchase must be your new primary residence. This means you have not owned a home in the past three years as your primary residence. You can own a mobile home, but it must be on a rented lot or land and still qualify as a first-time homebuyer. The applicant's income must be 150% or less of the county Area Median Income (AMI). Loan amount - You must not exceed the income and loan amount for the county you plan on buying in. Credit Qualifications: You must meet the credit requirements for the loan type you have chosen (VA, FHA, USDA, and Conventional) Home Buyer Education is required. Additional loan requirement may apply; contact a loan originator for more information.

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SOURCE First Federal Bank