Jacksonville is not only the largest city by landmass in the continental United States, it is the largest city in the Southeastern U.S. and the state of Florida by population. It is a vibrant hub for business, offering one of the hottest job markets in the country. In 2023, the Wall Street Journal ranked Jacksonville as the 3rd hottest job market, and the area’s diverse economy makes it an ideal location for expansion.
Known as the, “First Coast,” the Jacksonville area was the location of the first European settlements in what is now the continental U.S. It has a long history, and at First Federal Bank (FFB), we see the Jacksonville region continuing to grow and thrive. That is why we are excited to have opened our first full-service branch in this vibrant metropolitan area. The new location officially opened on April 9.
John Medina, First Federal’s President and CEO, was on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony, and spoke about the bank’s commitment to the First Coast, “As we look to the future, we are excited to continue serving Jacksonville and beyond. We are proud to offer a variety of banking products and services, including home loans and lines of credit, all backed by the stability and customer-focused philosophy of a mutual bank. We are excited for what lies ahead in the Jacksonville community, and we look forward to continuing to serve you, in a greater capacity.”
First Federal Bank has been serving the Jacksonville area since 2008, but our roots run much deeper. We’ve been providing home loans since 1962, and in 2020, we made Jacksonville our permanent mortgage home. Since then, the division has flourished, and just last year, FFB originated 3,535 home loans totaling $1.1 billion. It’s been our privilege to help so many families achieve their dreams of homeownership.
In recognition of our continued commitment to providing banking services, we were honored to win the SBA’s North Florida District’s “Top Community Lender by Number of Loans” and to be nominated for “Large Business of the Year” in Nassau County. One of our employees also received a nomination for “Customer Service Professional of the Year.”
At First Federal Bank, we are proud to be part of this dynamic community. We are pleased to be expanding because that means we can continue to give back to our community, which is an integral part of FFB. Our tradition of community involvement includes supporting local events like the Clean Up North East Florida Waters initiative and sponsoring the Jacksonville’s Down Syndrome Association’s annual Buddy Walk. And recently, we announced a significant donation to One More Child. It’s an honor to help this worthy organization support foster children, adoption, and single mothers.
In addition to these contributions, we’re committed to supporting local businesses. Last year, we sponsored the Icemen hockey league’s Military Appreciation weekend, offering free tickets to military members and their families.
First Federal Bank is proud to serve Jacksonville, and looks forward to being a valued partner in the area for many years to come.